Harrogate union joins calls on Government for teachers to be vaccinated as a matter of priority

The NASUWT teachers' union representative in Harrogate is supporting a national campaign calling for all teachers and education staff to be prioritised for the coronavirus vaccine to save lives and help get children back to school.
The vaccination rollout against Covid-19 has begun in Harrogate and across the country.The vaccination rollout against Covid-19 has begun in Harrogate and across the country.
The vaccination rollout against Covid-19 has begun in Harrogate and across the country.

Ms Sharon Calvert, national executive member of the NASUWT, Harrogate Association, said union members were being asked to send a letter to their MP backing the appeal.

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She said the campaign had been launched in what the union says are different circumstances to the Government's first lockdown last year, specifically the following:

The majority of schools are open and unlike the first lockdown.

There are many more students in and special schools are also still open.

Teachers and other support staff are working in close proximity and give personal care to students who have complex needs and, therefore, would also be protected by staff receiving a vaccination.

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The letter that members of the NASUWT are being asked to send to MPs and the Government says:

The Teachers’ Union, which is calling for all teachers and education staff to be prioritised for the coronavirus vaccine to save lives and help get children back to school.

The best place for children and young people is to be in safe schools and colleges.

However, there is clear evidence that teachers and education staff are at higher risk of contracting the Coronavirus and further measures are need to protect all education staff from contracting this deadly virus and to ensure that education onsite within schools and colleges can be restored fully without further ongoing disruption to provision.

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It is in the national interest that all teachers and education staff are prioritised in the roll-out of the Coronavirus vaccines.

Teachers and education staff are unable to practice social distancing from their pupils and few are provided with essential PPE as part of their day-to-day roles.

It is, of course, right that health and social care staff are prioritised for access to the vaccine, but teachers must also be identified as a priority group for the vaccine.

The public agrees with us. Nine out of ten agree that teachers should be included in a priority group for vaccinations so that schools can re-open fully and safely.

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The majority of the public also agree that teachers should be accorded the same priority status as frontline healthcare workers and social care staff.

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