Survey: Only 14 Counties Are Vaccinating School Staff

Gov. Gavin Newsom twice increased vaccine priority for teachers last month, but a new survey of school superintendents shows the majority of counties have not heeded the guidance.

Only 14 California counties are currently vaccinating school staff, according to responses to the California County Superintendents Educational Services Association. The Association’s survey was taken by 48 county superintendents.

The good news is, most counties expect things to change. 26 of the superintendents said there were plans in place to begin vaccinating school staff soon (8 said their county has no such plan). About 40% of the superintendents said campuses will be used as vaccination sites for school staff. The state's most populous county, Los Angeles, will begin vaccinating school staff on March 1 and the state says it will set aside 10% of doses just for educators. 

According to EdSource, most of the 14 counties currently vaccinating school staff are in rural areas.