CHICAGO — The Chicago Teachers Union has approved a deal with the nation’s third-largest school district to get students back to class during the coronavirus pandemic.

The union’s roughly 25,000 members announced the vote early Wednesday, ending the possibility of a teacher lockout or strike.

The agreement comes after months of negotiations and includes plans for more teacher vaccinations and metrics to allow school closures if COVID-19 infections spike.

The first wave of students is due back Thursday. Other students in K-8 will return in the coming weeks for limited classroom instruction.

No plans have been set for high school students to return. They will continue remote instruction.