Boston Globe – Teenagers 16 and older should be prioritized for a coronavirus vaccine and schools should hold vaccination clinics, Boston Superintendent Brenda Cassellius told US Education Secretary Miguel Cardona.

“High school students are struggling,” Cassellius said. “They’re isolated.” The vaccine “would bring some normalcy to their lives.”

Cassellius made her appeal during a visit with Cardona at the Joseph P. Tynan Elementary School in South Boston. It was Cardona’s first stop on a multistate listening tour to understand the challenges of re-opening schools as President Biden’s administration pushes for the majority of elementary and middle schools to fully reopen in-person during his first 100 days in office.

“There is no substitute for in-person learning,” Cardona said. “And you’ve shown you can do it.”

Cardona did not publicly respond to the superintendent’s suggestion for a teen vaccination initiative. The Biden administration is urging all educators to be vaccinated, but has not made any special plans to vaccinate students.