Gov. Ned Lamont was in
Waterbury on Thursday where teachers said they were ready to receive their
first COVID-19 vaccine come Monday.
Gov. Lamont said vaccinating
school staff will get kids back in class five days a week. Individual school
districts and local health departments are designing their own rollouts.
"Here in Waterbury,
we're going to have a special hotline just for education staff – teachers,
administrators and others,” says Mayor Neil O'Leary. “You'll call the hotline,
you'll get your appointment."
Once the vaccinations are
done, Waterbury's Superintendent Verna Ruffin wants her teachers back in the
classroom.
"The intention is to
return everybody back safely and we believe we have a plan to do that now,” she
says.
Some teachers told News 12
that they are still nervous about being in class.
"Especially when
students can be asymptomatic and you don't know if they have [COVID-19] or
not,” says Michele Brittingham. “They don't do any random type of testing or
anything like that."
Teacher Danielle Byron says
the she does feel safe heading back to class, and adds, “I will
feel even safer once I am vaccinated though."
For those who are not
teachers, the vaccine is still being doled out by age group. On Thursday, a
disability rights group sued the U.S. Office of Civil Rights, saying Gov. Lamont's new plan
discriminates against people with chronic health conditions.