To date, nearly 100,000 school employees have been vaccinated, governor says.

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DOYLESTOWN, PA (March 19, 2021) – PSEA President Rich Askey joined Gov. Tom Wolf, state lawmakers, and other stakeholders at the Bucks County Intermediate Unit today to discuss the rollout of Pennsylvania’s educator vaccine program.

To date, nearly 100,000 school employees have been vaccinated, Gov. Wolf said today. It is an important milestone in the effort to create a safer environment for in-person instruction in Pennsylvania’s schools.

“From the very beginning of the pandemic and throughout this school year, PSEA members have gone above and beyond to teach and serve their students — wherever they were, in school or at home,” Askey said. “Our educators and support professionals, throughout all of it, have wanted one thing more than anything else — to be with their students in school and in person.

“The vaccination program will go a long way to making that happen. It will ensure a safer environment for in-person instruction, protecting the health of educators, support professionals, students, and their families. It will help us to get closer to normal and to get our economy back on track.”

Askey noted that the state’s COVID-19 Vaccine Joint Task Force, which includes Wolf administration officials and a bipartisan group of legislators, earlier this month approved a plan to designate 94,600 doses of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine for school staff members. Vaccinations have been administered through intermediate units across the state in partnership with local school districts and with assistance from the Pennsylvania National Guard.

Askey thanked Gov. Wolf and the members of the COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force for creating the program, as well as the state’s 28 intermediate units, school administrators, and the National Guard for the important role they’re playing.

“Everyone here today recognizes that school staff members are essential, and by making the vaccine available to these dedicated professionals, we can — and will — move a little closer to normal,” Askey said. “Thank you all for making this happen. Now, let’s get back to school.”

Askey is a Harrisburg music teacher and the president of PSEA. An affiliate of the National Education Association, PSEA represents about 178,000 active and retired educators and school employees, student teachers, higher education staff, and health care workers in Pennsylvania.