COVID

Teachers and other school workers are now eligible for the vaccine in Massachusetts. Hereโ€™s who that does โ€” and doesnโ€™t โ€” count.

Officials say the group totals around 400,000 residents.

Jennifer Hogan, a reading specialist at Lynn Public Schools, tears up upon getting the COVID-19 vaccine at a CVS in Medford. Suzanne Kreiter / The Boston Globe

Following a directive last week from President Joe Biden’s administration, Massachusetts officially made all K-12 teachers and other school employees eligible to sign up to get the COVID-19 vaccine Thursday.

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According to the state’s website, the group includes anyone employed full-time or part-time at a public or private K-12 school, Head Start program, or childcare provider.

The broad group โ€” estimated to total roughly 400,000 residents โ€” also includes school volunteers and contractors.

However, the newly eligible group does not include higher education employees or privately employed babysitters and nannies, who remain in Phase 3 of the rollout if they do not otherwise qualify for a vaccine.

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Eligible individuals can book appointments at any of the state’s vaccination sites, and officials are planning four educator-only days at the state’s mass vaccination sites beginning later this month.

Here’s the list of who can โ€” and cannot โ€” currently sign up:

Now eligible:

  • Educators
  • Paraprofessionals/education support professionals
  • Childcare educators
  • Family childcare assistants
  • Childcare program directors
  • Childcare center directors
  • District and school administrators
  • Clerical and administrative staff
  • Bus or van drivers
  • Custodial staff
  • Food service staff
  • After-school program staff
  • Student teachers, interns, teaching assistants, and aides
  • School Safety Officers

The group also includes “people who work in full time, part time, or in-school volunteer roles, or who are employed by another organization to provide education or support in a school or childcare setting (e.g. early intervention providers, student mentors, tutors, arts programs, individuals responsible for educator observations or coaching, etc.).”

Not yet eligible:

  • Higher education workers, including administrators, teaching and non-teaching staff
  • Privately employed babysitters, nannies, and au pairs
  • Informal friend, family and neighbor care
  • Camp counselors
  • Certified, licensed, or retired educators who are not currently employed as an educator
  • Department of Elementary and Secondary Education staff, unless the individual is serving as an educator (e.g., educators at Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children)
  • Department of Early Education and Care staff, unless the individual is employed as a licensor or investigator who is required to conduct on-site visits and inspections.

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