‘I’m anxious for our fellow front-liners’
Preschool director ‘excited’ to get vaccine; worries about those left out
GREENWICH — Until Monday, David Cohen didn’t think he would receive his COVID-19 vaccine until the spring.
“I was thinking that some time at the end of March we would start making appointments, but it would take until April or May,” Cohen said Tuesday.
Cohen, 48, is director of schools at Temple Sholom in Greenwich, which between its early childhood and religious school programs has 240
students and about 45 teachers.
With the exception of a few staff members who qualified for a vaccine because of their age or because they live out of state, Cohen and most of his staff did not expect to be next up on the state’s priority list.
But Gov. Ned Lamont announced Monday that all in-school educators and child-care workers could start scheduling appointments as of March 1, in a surprise shift to an agebased priority system. Connecticut residents ages 55 to 64 also qualify that day, and, according to the plan, subsequent age groups will be vaccinated throughout the next two months. By the beginning of May, residents as young as 16 would qualify.
Without the exception for educators, Cohen would have fallen into the 45 to 54 age group, which can sign up starting March 22. Instead, he’ll be in the next batch.
The announcement angered some, notably grocery store, restaurant and other essential workers and younger people with comorbidities, who prior to this week hoped to be part of the next group eligible. Teachers, on the other hand, celebrated the news. Unions representing state educators were vocal throughout the pandemic about the risks of teaching in person and had been strongly advocating for the vaccine.
And like many teachers in Connecticut, for Cohen and his staff, Lamont’s announcement was happy, if somewhat overdue, news.
“We’ve been back open since July 1, so I think everybody has gotten to a good place feeling comfortable with protocols,” Cohen said. “But as vaccinations are getting more common I think people are getting antsy, feeling like we’ve been on the front lines since the beginning.”
The vaccine will add another layer of comfort, Cohen said, but, of course, will not allow the school to let its guard down. The school’s many students are still likely months away from being vaccinated.
And despite the relief felt by Cohen and his staff at the news, there is a desire to see all front-line workers vaccinated.
“As much as I’m very excited about this, I’m anxious for our fellow frontliners, people in grocery stores and delivery and stuff, to join us on the list,” Cohen said.