# Rationale for priority to educators **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [January 18, 2021, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rationale-for-priority-to-educators/930826 "2021-01-18T19:01:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![FigNorton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fignorton/32/5619_2.png) [@FigNorton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FigNorton)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2021, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rationale-for-priority-to-educators/930826/41 "2021-01-19T16:45:54Z")
Does that 50% number come from somewhere? ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2021, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rationale-for-priority-to-educators/930826/42 "2021-01-19T17:55:01Z")
No. But neither do the numbers speculating that a bus driver can give it to X people and a teacher to Y. ---
**Author:** ![FigNorton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fignorton/32/5619_2.png) [@FigNorton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FigNorton)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2021, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rationale-for-priority-to-educators/930826/43 "2021-01-19T21:42:36Z")
Well just for the record, I was using rather more real numbers. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2021, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rationale-for-priority-to-educators/930826/44 "2021-01-19T21:57:39Z")
The point is this. The elderly may be more likely to die of COVID, but essential workers are VASTLY more likely to spread the disease. The nature of exponential growth is such that even a small increase in the rate of infection will lead to a huge increase in the number of infected individuals. Again because of the nature of exponential growth, stopping COVID from spreading by targeting those most likely to spread it for vaccination will save more lives than giving the vaccine to those most vulnerable who are also unlikely to spread it widely. ---
**Author:** ![FigNorton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fignorton/32/5619_2.png) [@FigNorton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FigNorton)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2021, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rationale-for-priority-to-educators/930826/45 "2021-01-19T22:57:23Z")
That rationale is perfectly logical but I am specifically saying I reject it because the deaths are so concentrated in a certain demographic. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2021, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rationale-for-priority-to-educators/930826/46 "2021-01-19T23:01:31Z")
_That rationale is understandable, but logically we must reject it because transmission is so concentrated in a certain demographic._ Although the 65+ crowd IS getting top priority, so it isn’t even really being rejected. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2021, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rationale-for-priority-to-educators/930826/47 "2021-01-19T23:10:59Z")
> [@dauerbach1](#): > > They are being given very high priority in vaccination without the agreement or even suggestion that they will return to in person learning. Do you seriously think that we’d keep on teaching virtually, once we have the vaccine? We all know that distance learning isn’t as effective as face to face. We’re going to go back to face to face as soon as we possibly can, because we can all see the effect that pandemic-mitigation efforts are having on education, and we hate it. We don’t need deal-making on that front. ---
**Author:** ![FigNorton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fignorton/32/5619_2.png) [@FigNorton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FigNorton)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2021, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rationale-for-priority-to-educators/930826/48 "2021-01-20T00:40:34Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > That rationale is understandable, but logically we must reject it because transmission is so concentrated in a certain demographic. But that’s exactly the fact based argument I’m looking for. Do you have a cite whether and how much transmission is concentrated in grocery clerks or bus drivers? Did you mean a different “certain demographic”? ---
**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2021, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rationale-for-priority-to-educators/930826/49 "2021-01-20T00:43:46Z")
I am what has been referred to here as an “old fuck”. Hubs is older and Mom must be an ancient fuck. I really want my 84 year old mother to be vaccinated ASAP. Hubs won’t get vaccinated, he has a healthy immune system or some such shit. For myself, I want the kids back in school. I am hating wasting so much of my active retirement time sitting at home, but in 20 years, I am going to want educated nursing home/medical staff. I can wait for my shots until the kids are back in school. [Mod note - political comment removed at author’s request, past expiration of edit window] ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2021, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rationale-for-priority-to-educators/930826/50 "2021-01-20T01:09:01Z")
> [@JaneDoe42](#): > > Do Nothing Ducey I’m just noting that **JaneDoe42** has self-reported this political remark so there’s no need for anyone else to report it. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2021, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rationale-for-priority-to-educators/930826/51 "2021-01-20T01:27:12Z")
> [@echoreply](#): > > In Colorado the order is roughly: Front line health care, people in long term care facilities, other health care workers, emergency workers (firefighers, police, etc.), 70+, frontline essential workers ( **teachers** , grocery, agriculture, transportation, etc.), frontline government workers, frontline journalists, 60-69, 16-59 with underlying conditions, not-yet covered essential workers, placebo recipients, 16+. …I mean, this sounds perfectly reasonable, seems in line with the guidelines used in other parts of the country and other parts of the world, and is in line with what the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended. I see that there is still debate going on here but I’m not entirely sure what that debate is about. Does anyone substantially disagree with this? ---
**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2021, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rationale-for-priority-to-educators/930826/52 "2021-01-20T01:31:52Z")
Thank you for the edit and I am sorry for being a bother. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2021, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rationale-for-priority-to-educators/930826/53 "2021-01-20T02:23:29Z")
> [@FigNorton](#): > > But that’s exactly the fact based argument I’m looking for. Do you have a cite whether and how much transmission is concentrated in grocery clerks or bus drivers? Did you mean a different “certain demographic”? This is obviously a very difficult thing to study, especially because it is believed that much of the spread may come from asymptomatic people. This study tries to lookat outbreak hotspots and figure out who was sick forst before the flare-up. It seems like younger people in their late teens/early 20s flare up first, with older groups following. This would imply younger people are driving the spread, likely because many are still working or otherwise participating in society. But I couldn’t tell you how many are essential workers vs how many are just maskholes. > **[Transmission Dynamics by Age Group in COVID-19 ...](https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6941e1.htm)** > > This report describes an analysis of temporal trends in percent positivity by age group in COVID-19 hotspot counties before and after their identification as hotspots. I’ll see if I can find anything else. ---
**Author:** ![FigNorton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fignorton/32/5619_2.png) [@FigNorton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FigNorton)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2021, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rationale-for-priority-to-educators/930826/54 "2021-01-20T02:52:05Z")
That’s interesting but I’m wondering how that fits with reports that recent waves have included many more young people than 2020 spring waves. I was just struck by the thought that I don’t think I remember ever seeing a bus driver under 25. But that could just be my brain. Lol. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2021, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rationale-for-priority-to-educators/930826/55 "2021-01-20T02:56:14Z")
> [@echoreply](#): > > The obvious big reason to give teachers a higher priority on the list is to open, and _keep open_ , schools. That means placing teachers ahead of other people of similar age. Yeah, all school staff (teachers and otherwise) that I know are all about this. We want to be back in the building, but only when it’s safe. Full vaccination is the gold standard here, and nothing else comes close. Still, I want the elderly and at-risk to be in front of us. In NC, they are. ---
**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2021, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rationale-for-priority-to-educators/930826/56 "2021-01-20T05:05:42Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Still, I want the elderly and at-risk to be in front of us. In NC, they are. I want my mother vaccinated. I want teachers to get vaccinated before me. I have a heavily vested interest in spending my twilight years being cared for by a well educated population. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2021, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rationale-for-priority-to-educators/930826/57 "2021-01-20T11:52:14Z")
> [@JaneDoe42](#): > > I have a heavily vested interest in spending my twilight years being cared for by a well educated population. Me, too. But I know that kids are resilient, and that if we put some attention toward doing so, we can help kids fill in gaps and learn the things they need to learn. They can come back from a year of remote learning. Mom can’t come back from death. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2021, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rationale-for-priority-to-educators/930826/58 "2021-01-20T19:37:18Z")
> [@JaneDoe42](#): > > Hubs won’t get vaccinated, he has a healthy immune system or some such shit. Ya see, this is a problem. I’m sure your husband is healthy and has a tremendous immune system. That may make him MORE dangerous. If he carries the disease without showing symptoms, then it is MORE important for him to get the vaccination. If he does not, he can contract it and spread it to you, your mother, etc. I’m not saying he should be front of the line or anything, but it is important for him to get vaccinated. How many of the anti-vaxxers are thinking “hey, everyone else is vaccinated - why should I risk my kid getting (imaginary) side effects! He’s going to be protected by everyone else’s herd immunity!” Same thing - if he doesn’t get the vaccine, then he becomes a potential carrier. It ain’t about him getting sick, it’s about him getting other people sick. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2021, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rationale-for-priority-to-educators/930826/59 "2021-01-20T19:44:11Z")
> [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](#): > > If he carries the disease without showing symptoms, then it is MORE important for him to get the vaccination. If he does not, he can contract it and spread it to you, your mother, etc. Do we have any evidence yet that the vaccine prevents someone from getting infected and being contagious, as opposed to from experiencing the effects of the infection themselves? Last I head, that was something we didn’t know for sure. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2021, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rationale-for-priority-to-educators/930826/60 "2021-01-20T19:45:01Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Last I head, that was something we didn’t know for sure. We don’t, and especially as younger people start getting the vaccine it is crucial they don’t think this means they can forgo mask wearing or social distancing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rationale-for-priority-to-educators/930826.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rationale-for-priority-to-educators/930826.md?page=4)