Schooling has been remote for nearly 10 months now, and students and teachers alike are wondering when they will be able to return to a physical classroom. With vaccine distributions beginning nationwide, we can only hope that the immunization of Roosevelt students and staff will begin soon.
There are many different stages a vaccine must go through before it is officially approved and can be used by the public: preclinical testing, safety trials, expanded trials, efficacy trials, and finally, approval tests ensure the safety and efficacy of vaccines. But these stages take time.
As of January 2021, there are still only two vaccines approved for emergency use – Pfizer and Moderna; ninety-one other vaccines are at different stages in the trial process.
Vaccine supplies are still limited and as a result, the government has had to take on the difficult responsibility of deciding who gets the vaccine first in order to minimize the amount of time we continue to be in quarantine. This issue is tricky for a number of reasons, most notably because while it is a scientific dilemma, it is also a socio-ethical one. After the frontline workers are immunized, which age groups should get the vaccine next? Are minority groups who are disproportionately affected by the virus more important, or should efforts be made to ensure schools can go back to an in-person format?
Due to the multiple factors surrounding the distribution of the vaccine, the federal government has allowed states to handle the task as they see fit. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is recommending that states take into account science, ethics, and implementation equally when managing the allocation of vaccines.
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), issued a recommendation as to who should be considered a ‘high-priority’ citizen. They recommended that ‘Phase One’ include healthcare workers and long-term care residents.
So far, forty-five states are following the ACIP’s recommendation, some with minor adjustments to their plan. For example, Alabama, Florida and Tennessee are including non-health essential workers in this plan, while still prioritizing senior long-term care patients.
For the following phases of vaccine distribution, many states are partially or entirely disregarding ACIP advice, as later phases are being planned to address state-specific demographics and high-priority occupations.
According to the comprehensive vaccine plan provided by The Washington State Department of Health (DOH), Washington’s second phase of vaccinations will occur after all Phase One vaccinations are complete, and when there is a significant supply of vaccines. With time, more vaccines will be approved and states will learn how to better manage distribution. The DOH plans on utilizing a broader network of vaccine providers including pharmacies, long-term care facilities, and community health centers to facilitate the distribution of vaccines.
During Phase Two, vaccines will be opened up to a broader category of people including K-12 educators and childcare providers, those with severe underlying health risks, residents of homeless shelters, people with developmental and intellectual disabilities, and incarcerated people.
During Phase Three, young adults, and “workers in industries and occupations important to the functioning of society and at increased risk of exposure,” as stated by the DOH, will have access to the vaccine.
Phase Four will conclude the vaccination plan with the vaccination of all non-working non-essential adults. Based on those phases, students will get the vaccine during Phase three. However, no one knows exactly when we will move into the next phases, as it will all depend on the availability of vaccines and the ability of the government and states to cooperate in the next couple months.
Although phase one of vaccine distribution has already started, it could be months before we move into the next phase. The New York Times suggests states will move into Phase Two as early as April, although this will change as there is no confirmed timeline for when each phase will begin.
While our situation may feel hopeless, there is quite a bit that we, as citizens, can do to speed up the vaccine distribution process. The first and most important action is to quarantine responsibly as following all of our state’s quarantine protocols is critical in the expediting of the phases. Making sure to wear our masks while outside, maintaining six-foot distances, and limiting the number of times we come into contact with other people are crucial rules to follow.
When the ACIP, CDC, and other organizations released their timelines for vaccines, they took into account rates of COVID fluctuating over time. If we quarantine more rigorously, we can eliminate or lessen the rates of fluctuation which will further the distribution processes.
Students may go back as soon as May or June, once teachers are vaccinated. It will all depend on what the school board in cooperation with the teachers union decides. If they determine that it is safe enough to re-open schools as long as all teachers and staff members are completely vaccinated, then it is likely that at least some schools will switch back to in-person learning. In fact, according to the Seattle Public Schools website, pre-school, kindergarten, first grade, and special education students will have the option to go back to in-person school on March 1.
The classrooms will look different, with fewer students in each class and COVID protocols being implemented. The best information that has been provided all suggests that if we work collectively to be strict with the quarantine rules, it will be immensely easier for the vaccine to be distributed. If you are worried, anxious, or simply want more detailed information on the vaccine, its phases, and an accurate timeline, The New York Times provides an excellent ‘Coronavirus Vaccine Tracker’ which they update daily.
