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Good news for all teachers and child care workers in Lubbock and throughout the State of Texas, who want to get vaccinated against COVID-19, as they are now eligible for the shot.

In a press release on Wednesday, the City of Lubbock announced that the United States Department of Health and Human Services directed the State of Texas to expand vaccine eligibility to people who work in schools and child care operations.

According to the press release, the directive from the federal government includes more than just teachers.

"those who work in pre-primary, primary, and secondary schools, as well as Head Start and Early Head Start programs (including teachers, staff, and bus drivers) and those who work as or for licensed child care providers, including center-based and family care providers." 

This is effective immediately. This expanded eligibility falls under Phase 1B.

The move to include teachers, bus drivers, school staff, and child care workers now means that a large portion of Lubbock is eligible to receive the vaccine. Group 1A consists of people in the medical field and first responders. Group 1B, which now includes teachers, school staff, bus drivers, child care providers, along with those over 65 and those over the age of 18 with at least one chronic medical condition such as obesity, pregnancy, cancer, chronic kidney disease, heart conditions, sickle cell disease, and Type 2 Diabetes mellitus.

As of Tuesday, 38,748 people in Lubbock had received their first shot. 19,435 had received their second dose of the COVID vaccine.

The City of Lubbock holds multiple vaccination clinics each week.

LOOK: Answers to 30 common COVID-19 vaccine questions

While much is still unknown about the coronavirus and the future, what is known is that the currently available vaccines have gone through all three trial phases and are safe and effective. It will be necessary for as many Americans as possible to be vaccinated in order to finally return to some level of pre-pandemic normalcy, and hopefully these 30 answers provided here will help readers get vaccinated as soon they are able.

 

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