How will the vaccination help teachers/schools/children by March and how will it prevent parents losing their jobs?

[dameofdilemma]

Two glaring omissions from Boris' announcement:

1. Vaccinating the vulnerable to reduce deaths and NHS staff to reduce the impact on the NHS is obviously good news.

But it doesn't prevent teachers having to self-isolate and therefore does nothing to help schools struggling with staff shortages. Even when the vaccine is rolled out to the 4 categories, teachers are still at risk. Schools are still at risk of closure for many months. Children will continue to be left behind.

1. Linked to that, no mention by Boris of employment protections for parents who no longer have access to school or viable childcare. We are already seeing employers show less flexibility, unwillingness to furlough (not even available to the public sector) and less empathy all round.

People could lose their jobs, income and homes - pushing yet more children into poverty. (Bringing in ad hoc babysitters or leaving children to mix with new childminders defeats the point of lockdown somewhat).

Unless I've missed something (I've looked at the gov.uk info) there is zero help available for schools or parents. A perfect storm of poverty and inequality on the horizon then.

It'll protect those groups by shortening the need for restrictions. Once the first 4 priority groups are vaccinated, then it is likely we shall no longer need to be at alert 5, and restrictions can begin to be eased.

I do hope, that as the circulation of the disease will continue - causing fewer hospitalisations and deaths, but still leading to need to SI - one DofE priority will be to get on the front foot and start planning what adaptations will need to be made to public exams 2022.

For if one possible measure is to slim down the exam syllabus, they need to tell schools asap so examined topics are taught first

But what will actually change for teachers who didn't feel safe to be in the classroom? In the absence of teachers being vaccinated how will that change? Is it hoped that vaccinating the identified groups reduce transmission?

It will reduce hospital admissions which will reduce the need for restrictions.

Let's be honest, Boris didn't close the schools to protect teachers. He did it to stop the NHS collapsing.

Teachers who are on the priority list but lower down may well be reluctant to return if the virus is allowed to let rip after the most vulnerable are vaccinated.

A bigger point is that schools will not be able to remain open if too many of even the less-vulnerable teachers are sick and isolating.

Teachers who are on the priority list but lower down may well be reluctant to return if the virus is allowed to let rip after the most vulnerable are vaccinated.

I am no fan of this government (big understatement), but I honestly don’t think they can win. If they clamp down, they are taking away our freedom. If they loosen up, they are letting the virus rip and throwing people under the bus.

I think they’re trying to find the acceptable middle ground. They have declared their intention to vaccinate all adults eventually, and also said that occupational groups will be looked at as part of phase 2. But for now, they’ve got to crack on with phase 1 and are rightly putting massive energy and resources into that.

They are trying to do things which will reduce deaths and hospital pressures as quickly as possible. Whether they’ve made exactly the right choice at every point is a separate issue, but that’s what they’re trying to achieve.

With new variants in the mix that affect younger people, opening known maxi spreader locations like schools with vulnerable groups vaccinated means lower risk groups that in effect just take longer to die will be occupying NHS beds for a greater length of time.

Vaccinated teachers and open schools will lead to buckling NHS and impacted healthy workforce/dead parents with healthy elderly population. Community spread needs to remain carefully monitored.