Teachers and child care workers are now included in groups currently eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, the Texas Department of State Health Services .
The announcement follows a letter from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services calling on states to . The letter said this includes 鈥渢hose who work in pre-primary, primary, and secondary schools, as well as Head Start and Early Head Start programs (including teachers, staff, and bus drivers) and those who work as or for licensed child care providers, including center-based and family care providers.鈥�
The letter said educators are essential workers during the pandemic.
"However," , "it has come to our attention that some states have not considered teachers, school staff, and child care workers to be currently eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccine."
Texas is that had not yet included educators in priority groups for the vaccine.
Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday said he was . In response, most Central Texas school districts 鈥� including Austin ISD 鈥� said they would continue to require all staff, students and visitors to wear face coverings. The Texas Education Agency Wednesday, saying schools can establish their own rules around masks.
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