house Resolution No.344

Rep. Shannon offered the following resolution:

A resolution to urge the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to prioritize educators, school administrators, and school employees  for receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.

Whereas, The COVID-19 Pandemic has upended nearly every aspect of the lives of people in Michigan and countries across the world. It has caused a devastating loss of life and has struck a blow to our schools, communities, and the economy; and

Whereas, The development of COVID-19 vaccines is a beacon of hope that offers the possibility of returning to a world free from the concern that providing in-person education to our children will spread the deadly virus; and

Whereas, The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is responsible for the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines in the state of Michigan. MDHHS has outlined a phased approach for the distribution of vaccines beginning with hospitals, health care workers, and vulnerable populations. Following the initial distribution, the Division of Immunization within MDHHS will identify the populations considered essential personnel, including grocery and food distribution workers, healthcare workers not immunized during phase 1, high risk populations, and other critical populations; and

Whereas, Many communities are pushing for schools to commence in-person learning as soon as possible. Increasing evidence suggests that in-person learning is far superior to remote learning. The American Academy of Pediatrics has stated that children not only learn best when physically in the classroom, but they also receive numerous other benefits, including learning social and emotional skills, receiving healthy meals, and accessing mental health services. In addition, remote learning has been shown to exacerbate existing inequalities, as different communities have unequal access to the internet and other technologies that are required for remote learning. Remote learning also puts a strain on working parents, which has devastating ripple effects for our economy; and

Whereas, In order to safely commence in-person learning, educators and school administrators must receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Nearly a third of the educator workforce nationally is over the age of 55, while another quarter has existing medical issues that place them at higher risk for a more serious infection. In addition, because children are more likely to be asymptomatic, the risk of exposure for educators and school personnel may be higher due to the silent spread of the virus. The risk of exposure is heightened even further as many schools are opening without adequate resources, such as personal protective equipment; and

Whereas, Several education groups, including the National Education Association, the School Superintendents Association, and the American Federation of Teachers, have already urged the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to give adults in school systems priority for vaccinations. They argue that this is not only critical to fully reopening school buildings for instruction, but doing so will generate trust in the vaccination program with the education community serving as a "trusted messenger"; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we urge the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to prioritize educators, school administrators, and school employees for receiving the COVID-19 vaccine; and be it further

Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Governor and the Director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.