She said that the union was rethinking the situation and is talking to our leaders about possible changes due to the virulence and range of Delta coronavirus variants, the schoolchildren not yet eligible for vaccines and the Food and Drug Administrations expected move to approve Pfizers two dose Covid-19 vaccine in full by September.Weingarten stated that the FDA has not approved vaccines. This is the single most common reason for hesitancy I hear. We are currently in the process of speaking to people all over the country and talking to our leaders around the country about this because this is about keeping everyone safe.Context: Weingarten, who promotes vaccine uptake, recently announced that over 90 percent of the union's teachers and school staff had been vaccinated against coronavirus. This includes nearly 80 percent of union health care workers.She reiterated her belief that everyone should be vaccinated, unless there was a religious or medical exemption. However, mandates should still be an issue of negotiation between employers, employees, and the employer.She said that health workers were also concerned about the possibility of mandating vaccines without contract negotiation. This will result in more people being discharged from the hospital, at a time when staffing levels have already been reduced by the trauma of last year.The largest teacher union in New York State has stated that it will not support any efforts to require teachers to be vaccinated against Covid-19 prior to their return to school next month.New York State United Teachers stated this week that they would support any local efforts to increase vaccinations. We haven't supported a vaccine mandate.Deep distrust: We have emphasized this volitionally because we are so frightened that it will create another battleground, not only for educators, but also for families. We have been reluctant to have this conversation because of that.She said that the Delta variant is now "surging". "And it is very virulent and there are a few kids who can't get vaccine.
