School employees who regularly are in contact with students will be eligible to begin receiving COVID-19 vaccinations beginning next Monday, Jan. 11, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced today.

“This is great news for Michigan students and educators alike,” said MEA President Paula Herbart. “Ensuring our front line teachers and education support professionals can be vaccinated to protect themselves, their families, and their students is a key step in safely returning to in-person instruction.”

Monday will mark a partial kick off of Phase 1B of Michigan’s vaccine distribution plan, including preK-12 teachers and support staff with regular contact with students, childcare workers, first responders, corrections officers and the broader public over age 65.  For school employees, county health departments will work with employers about organizing appointments for the vaccine to be administered (which happens through two injections three- to four-weeks apart).

MEA has developed an FAQ regarding COVID-19 vaccination for school employees – and will continue to update it as more information becomes available.