In a significant shift, the President of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Randi Weingarten, now advocates for vaccine mandates among educators. Previously, Weingarten maintained that vaccinations should be voluntary, but has changed her position in light of the concerning spread of the Delta variant of COVID-19. “We must collaborate with employers on vaccine requirements instead of opposing them,” Weingarten stated during an interview with Chuck Todd on NBC’s Meet the Press. She expressed alarm over the variant’s rapid transmission, comparing it to the contagiousness of chickenpox.
The AFT represents approximately 1.7 million educators across the U.S., making it the second-largest teachers union nationally. Weingarten noted that educators are among the most vaccinated professions, with a significant number of her members already immunized. “Vaccinations in schools are not a new concept,” she added.
While she previously encouraged vaccination without endorsing mandates, Weingarten’s current perspective reflects changing circumstances. “It weighs heavily on me that children under 12 are not yet eligible for vaccination,” she remarked, emphasizing her moral obligation to speak out.
Weingarten also clarified that any vaccine mandates should allow for religious and medical exemptions. According to the White House, nearly 90% of educators and school staff have received at least one vaccine dose. However, a recent survey from the EdWeek Research Center found that about 11% of teachers indicated they would not get vaccinated. In comparison, around 71% of the general U.S. adult population has received at least one shot.
Becky Pringle, President of the National Education Association, the largest teachers union, has also called for immediate vaccination for all eligible individuals but has refrained from advocating for a mandate. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden announced that federal employees must be vaccinated to retain their jobs, intensifying the ongoing debate across the nation. With local governors in Florida and Texas opposing mask mandates in schools, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona has emphasized that vaccination and masking should not be politicized.
“There are many ways to accommodate people, which is why collaboration on vaccine policies is essential,” Weingarten concluded.
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