Teachers can get the COVID-19 vaccine, Texas health officials say

As Texas schools districts decide on a way forward once COVID-19 mandates are lifted next week, state health officials gave the greenlight to make teachers eligible for vaccines.

The Texas Department of State Health Services on Wednesday directed all vaccine providers to immediately include school and child care workers in vaccine administration.

Up until now, school employees who were eligible under the 1A and 1B phases were allowed to get shots.

The guidance came after the state's health department got initial direction from the federal level. The federal directive defined the people eligible as "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."

According to DSHS, this action does not change the other groups prioritized for vaccination in Texas.

READ: DSHS letter sent to vaccine providers on teacher eligibility

Besides the various local waitlists, the Biden administration on Tuesday directed pharmacies that participate in the federal vaccine distributions to also include educators. That means teachers can register at any major pharmacy chain, such as CVS or Walmart, as well as the various public vaccine hubs.

SEE MORE: Teachers, child care staff can book COVID-19 vaccines appointments even if ineligible

President Joe Biden said Tuesday that the U.S. expects to take delivery of enough coronavirus vaccines for all adult Americans by the end of May, two months earlier than anticipated, as his administration announced that drugmaker Merck & Co. will help produce rival Johnson & Johnson's newly approved shot.

This is a developing story. All updates can be found in this article. The video above is from a previous story.