teachers

His announcement comes after CVS Pharmacy said it would follow President Joe Biden's less restrictive directive to vaccinate school employees regardless of age.

Gov. Ron DeSantis cites the increase in available vaccines and the approval of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine as reasons for expanding the rollout.

DeSantis says Florida will use a portion of the “tens of thousands” of extra doses FEMA sites bring to the state to vaccinate teachers, law enforcement and firefighters who are 50 and older.

Chair Elizabeth Andersen says teachers deserve to be given the acknowledgement that they are putting themselves in a high-risk environment to provide a critical need to the community.

Some counties are working to vaccinate teachers over 65, but a Pinellas Classroom Teachers Association leader says it should be expanded, as all teachers are at risk.

Superintendent Robert Runcie says there are "some instances" where maintaining six feet may be difficult, but it will happen in "vast majority" of classrooms.

The president of the Florida Education Association says DeSantis "turned his back on educators in Florida."

The Florida Education Association is urging Gov. Ron DeSantis to prioritize teacher vaccinations as more students return to in-person learning in January.

Attorneys for the state filed documents asking an appeals court to deny requests by the teachers union and other plaintiffs for a rehearing in the case.

The plaintiffs have argued, at least in part, that the order violated a constitutional guarantee of “safe” and “secure” public education.