Teachers Don't Have To Be Vaccinated To Safely Reopen Schools, CDC Says In New Memo arrow At the Parkside School in October 2020 NYC Mayor's Office Schools across the country can reopen for in-person learning safely depending on how the coronavirus is spreading in their area, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday. Federal health officials added that teachers and school staff don’t have to be vaccinated as an essential part of this reopening. Built on studies showing that K-12 schools are “not a primary driver of community transmission,” the CDC's 33-page memo outlines a set of criteria for a safe return to classroom settings. The rules involve categorizing schools in four different zones based on local transmission rates and mitigation strategies.