AFT’s Weingarten: ‘I Personally Support’ Vaccine Mandate for Kids 5 and Over

EXCERPT:

HARLOW: “You just mentioned vaccines and I know where you stand personally and where the union stands on teacher vaccinations, but I just want to make really clear really clear to the viewers, is your -- is the American Federation of Teachers now supportive of mandatory vaccination for all students 5 and over?”
WEINGARTEN: “You know, look, I think that that’s very fraught right now. I mean, I know personally, you know --“
HARLOW: “I know it is, but it's important --“
WEINGARTEN: “Yeah.”
HARLOW: “-- what you say on it, right?”
WEINGARTEN: “Right.”
HARLOW: “I mean, it's critical what you say on it right now.”
WEINGARTEN: “So -- so I think ultimately, I think we have to get through this month, in terms of testing right now for this month is really important. And if somebody tests positive, they have to be home. If there is an exposure, and you are -- and parents are willing to do tests to stay, that’s really important, because we have to stop the transmissibility right now. We’re going to see the same staff shortages that we see in airlines and in -- and in the, you know, transit, and you’ll see schools closed, even places that -- that want to stay open because of people getting sick. So that’s why I say trust and transparency. In terms of vaccines, I think what Gavin Newsom did in California is really the best model, which is that the semester after they are -- they go from emergency use to full authorization and the FDA has done everything that they need to do, that’s what California has said. That is the semester that they become mandatory. But right now --“
HARLOW: “And you support that nationally?”
WEINGARTEN: “And I -- and -- and I -- I personally support that.”