to think if they vaccinate teachers- they should also do shop and other key worker too?

[Pat123dev]

I understand teachers want vaccination, who wouldn't want it. But why are other key workers not being considered too? Shop workers, police force many others, must see 100s if not 1000s of people a day?
Or is that why they're not vaccinating them yet, because they're all exposed more than those at home and it's too big a group so best to stick vulnerable for the time being?

From the Downing Street briefing just now, it seems that key workers who are exposed to other adults, ie shop workers, emergency services, are more at risk than teachers!

@OldGirl72

From the Downing Street briefing just now, it seems that key workers who are exposed to other adults, ie shop workers, emergency services, are more at risk than teachers!

Keir is using the "vaccinate teachers" thing as an emotional stick to beat the government.

If they don't vaccinate teachers they're nasty evil tories.

If they do vaccinate teachers they're incompetent idiots who left the vulnerable vulnerable to treat a bunch of people with low infection rates

The plan is for all adults (who want it) to be vaccinated over time, so shop workers and others will get the jab.

Teachers are being prioritised over some other groups because they are in very close quarters with lots of wee super spreaders children. Getting children back to school is very important for their education and the childcare element that will be necessary for the economy to start up properly.

Not this again. Shop workers and police are not stuck in small rooms with 34 people every day. If one of those people get covid then EVERYONE in the class has to self isolate. It is to stop transmission, not because teachers are special . It is impossible for teachers to maintain any sort of social distance. Our classrooms were designed to hold 30% less children than they actually do. You try socially distancing in that situation.

Shop workers don’t stand in a Tiny room Crammed With 35 people For hours at a time. They are not facing 35 people , or raiding their voices and addressing them. Shop workers are all also wearing masks at all times. Or they should be

Everyone want teachers vaccinated though? Including the government.

But right now they need to stop people dying/going to hospital so they need to get those groups first.

I'm sorry but I don't think that teachers should jump the que nor do I think that shopworkers should either i know that this isn't a popular opinion but the lists were made up so the most at risk get the vaccine 1st we should stick to the list

Because teachers make a fuss and threaten strikes, whereas it seems other key workers are prepared to just get on with it and do what needs to be done.

Nursery staff who provide personal care and are discouraged from PPE should also be prioritised.

However I think the police should be first

thegreenlight I disagree, the police are spat at, in and out of people’s houses and vehicles, deal with the awful things that most people can’t comprehend, they are in cells, they are covered with all sorts. When you join the police you’re vaccinated against certain hepatitis strains... well I was when I joined as you’re dealing with drug takers and needles, the list goes on.

It's so they can continue with childcare.
It's so unions stop moaning about them being unsafe.
It's to placate people and make them think things are ok.
The vaccination doesn't stop you getting Covid, just reduces the symptoms. It's not a magic cure.

I agree on this. They may not be exposed all day to the same group but they’re exposed to a large number of people, some of whom refuse to/can’t wear masks.

Maybe an unpopular opinion but I think the government should stick to the original plan.
Teachers should wait until it's their turn

I imagine its more about continuinty of service?

@Sinful8 yep!! Pretty fucking furious with Kier S, totally muddying the waters about why schools are closed which is really fucking unhelpful.

It’s not about teachers.....research shows they’re at no increased risk (altho I do feel sorry for the poor bastards being with a load of kids who don’t/won’t social distance etc.)

However It’s the fact that for every class teacher that’s ‘at risk’ there’s at least 30-60 parents per class who are also at risk if schools stay open. They aren’t closed to stop a class giving it to one teacher, they’re closed to stop the kids in that class getting it and spreading to their parents, of which per class you have 30-60 - that’s the risk. Vaccinating teachers is going to do bollocks all to stop the rates of infections and subsequent deaths and hospitalisations!!

@shadysback
No because they are not allowed to wear masks in class.
Because they are in a small classroom usually without approximately 30 children who spread viruses and have no idea of hygiene or social distancing measures.

Not this again. Teachers cannot distance from their students, shop workers can.
Teachers are in close quarters with atleast 30 children for long periods of time shop workers are not..
I could go on but I don't think I should have to

Starmer appeared to be calling for key workers to become priority 5 (so two ahead of the CV)

He needs to show the evidence on which he bases his call, and what it means for controlling the virus, because it is leaving the vulnerable exposed for longer - risking a new surge in the disease (he needs to demonstrate why it wouldn’t, or why there is little difference) and what it means for the pressure on the NHS

Without that it looks more like empty politicking rather than considered policy. He only said it today, but he must have based it on something, and the sooner he can make a version public as soon as poss

It seems every ine thinks their group is more of a priority and should get the vaccine quicker.
At the moment they have not even fulfilled the promise to vaccinate all peole in care homes.
Prioritising healthy teachers is wrong.

I’m a shop worker and I don’t think we should be vaccinated ahead of the emergency services and teachers.

I feel pretty safe at work. Screens over every till and mask wearing is well enforced.

I do however work with a lot of older colleagues. I do feel that priority should be given to those who are over 60 say and unable to work from home or those who are clinically vulnerable but still at work before they vaccinate the younger still working population. I’m much more worried about accidentally infecting one of the lovely 70+ year old till workers than I am about catching it myself.

@thegreenlight

Not this again. Shop workers and police are not stuck in small rooms with 34 people every day. If one of those people get covid then EVERYONE in the class has to self isolate. It is to stop transmission, not because teachers are special . It is impossible for teachers to maintain any sort of social distance. Our classrooms were designed to hold 30% less children than they actually do. You try socially distancing in that situation.

This. Just this.

The problem is that those most at risk are those being vaccinated and if the government wants to get its death figures as low as possible, it is therefore care home residents and the very old who have to be vaccinated.
If we are looking at vaccinating working age people, apparently some number-crunching has suggested that those most at risk are lorry drivers and security guards.
Teachers are actually way down the list, having no greater risk than the normal risk for their age group and health than the general population.

After the elderly and those with high risk medical needs are vaccinated if they do key workers before the general population then then they should prioritise in order of risk of medical need such as risk of death - cleaners, lorry drivers, shop workers, factory workers, builders and plumbers and then teachers too.

It would not stop any surge or transmission, only protect the teacher, so bubbles will still close as the dc pass it between each other and then their families, some of whom might actually be in the top 6 priority groups. The teacher may still bring it home to their family as we don't know that transmission is reduced, so no, I think vulnerable groups and then workers on a risk basis - eg care, police, etc etc based on infection rates of those groups, so teachers slot in wherever their infection rate is.

I still think it should be based on medical needs and nothing else.