Teachers and other school workers are now eligible for the vaccine in Massachusetts. Hereโs who that does โ and doesnโt โ count.
Officials say the group totals around 400,000 residents.

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.
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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