President Joe Biden declared on Tuesday that states should prioritize educators for the COVID-19 vaccine.
He penned, “Today, I am directing every state to prioritize educators for vaccination. We want every educator, school staff member, and child-care worker to receive at least one shot by the end of this month. It’s time to treat in-person learning like the essential service that it is.”
By May, Biden said, there will be enough vaccines for everybody. “Three weeks ago, I announced we would have enough vaccine supply for all Americans by the end of July. Now, with our efforts to ramp up production, we will have enough vaccines for every American by the end of May.”
This follows the announcement of a joint venture between Johnson & Johnson and Merck. Publix is giving all of its 225,000 employees over $100 in gift cards if they choose to take the vaccine, as previously stated.
According to CBSNews, Publix has made it clear that vaccinating company staff against COVID-19 is a top priority. The organization also revealed that if its 225,000 workers voluntarily take the vaccine, they would receive a $125 Publix gift card. Employees must request an internal form along with proof of vaccination in order to receive company gift cards.
While Publix is reportedly encouraging its workers to get the vaccine, it is not a prerequisite for continued jobs.
“We care about our associates and customers and believe getting vaccinated can help us take one step closer to getting back to normal. We’re encouraging our associates to get vaccinated when they become eligible and doses are available,” In a recent press release, Publix CEO Todd Jones said.
