The teacher who died just after Christmas.

[Breastfeedingworries]

Good morning all,

Not sure if if this was posted about at the time as I didn’t see the thread.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/news.sky.com/story/amp/covid-19-family-of-teacher-who-died-with-coronavirus-say-school-staff-must-be-priority-for-vaccination-12195441

Why aren’t we vaccinating teachers? Is there a petition online?

Can we as a MN massive do something’s about this.

[bluebluezoo]

To add, the reason the police are at the front of the queue in this way as it was already tried when mass testing came into play.

They tried offering spare capacity to other groups, including NHS, but the police where the only ones who could access personnel details out of hours, and get staff directed to testing centres in a timely manner.

So they know that system works, which is why it is the first to be utilised rather than attempt bringing in other groups where the contact system isn’t tried and tested.

Like I said, this has all been thought about!

[CuppaZa]

@Breastfeedingworries, do you happen to know how many transport workers have sadly died since March? Police? NHS?

[bluebluezoo]

But even if they phoned a police station, you've surely got time delay problems too - who needs it most, who can be spared from the station, who came into work in a car rather than on foot etc. It wouldn't be instant there either

@manicinsomniac How on earth do you think the police get to emergencies within minutes? Do you think they piss about phoning people to see who’s free?

There is already a system where one phone call leads to dispatchers immediately identifying anyone free from a job, on break, or in the office doing paperwork gets in their police vehicle and drives to wherever they’re directed. If it’s staff not on reactive they have a car park full of unmarked cars, or they can load people into a van.

They don’t need any of the fannying about you mention. It is about as instant as you can get.

Whereas your example of sheltered housing- someone has to access a list of phone numbers, then phone down the list to find people who are available to go- not quarantining, aren’t out doing their shopping, and have the means to get there. Then, knowing my mum’s demographic, they don’t just leave, they have to get dressed, find their glasses and house keys, check the cooker is off, shut the windows, lock up, and get to wherever. It isn’t always a local go either, it’s more likely to be a hub they aren’t familiar with, and isn’t in walking distance.

[WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants]

Groups 1-9 are set now, as they should be. It should include all vulnerable school staff. (All staff over 50 & younger who are CEV/CV)

Under 50's with no underlying issues are ALL being evaluated and the second phase list will be published in due course. It won't be just health based, it will be occupation other factors. They will take a lot of things into consideration I imagine teachers will be at or very near the top of the list, but there will be a LOT of people in that band so I imagine it'll be something like

40+ Teachers/nursery staff/childminders/police/retail/bus drivers/foster carers/other essential& caring people. Whoever else has petitioned well
29-40 as above
40+
30+
20+
Whatever younger age group they've decided it's safe for by then

[Nicknacky]

@saraclara Exactly, which is why the police federations are pushing for officers to get left over vaccines, as they are dealing with medically vulnerable people daily.

It’s not just about the officers own health.

[Cornishclio]

It is all very well people saying we should be vaccinating the vulnerable but very often it is people like teachers, supermarket workers, paramedics and policeman who are being made to work through this whereas the vulnerable could stay at home for a few more weeks until front line workers were vaccinated. As this guy was only 55 and fit and healthy it is not acceptable to say he was any less in danger of getting ill and dying than an 80 year old who does not go anywhere. Tragic.

[IceCreamAndCandyfloss]

@Coyoacan

Interesting. Just by comparison, without knowing if one strategy is better than another, here in Mexico schools will only open once the epidemic is totally under control, on a state by state basis. We have one state where schools are going to open and all the teachers are being vaccinated this weekend in preparation for it.

That sounds what we should be aiming for, only opening schools when it’s safe to do so. It’s what you’d expect parents to want rather than back in for childcare reasons.

[saraclara]

[quote Nicknacky]@manicinsomniac But that’s the point. If there is doses that are getting thrown out anyway then it’s better they get put in the arm of anyone, regardless of need.[/quote]
Exactly. The more people are vaccinated, the less risk the rest of us have of getting it. That random person who happened to be lucky enough to get the chance of an early vaccine that would otherwise have been binned, might well be the person who would otherwise have got Covid in a month's time and passed it on to me, or you, or someone vulnerable.

[Nicknacky]

@manicinsomniac And that would depend on a few factors coming into play, like you say timescale being just one of them.

But if push comes to shove and timescales are tight then anyone is better than no one.

[Coyoacan]

Interesting. Just by comparison, without knowing if one strategy is better than another, here in Mexico schools will only open once the epidemic is totally under control, on a state by state basis. We have one state where schools are going to open and all the teachers are being vaccinated this weekend in preparation for it.

[manicinsomniac]

Agreed. But if there's 5 minutes to spare which could allow someone to alert the overweight, asthmatic 49 year old officer instead of the healthy 26 year old officer then I think they should use that time. If there isn't 5 minutes to spare then sure, I agree. I don't know how tight the time limit is.

[Nicknacky]

@manicinsomniac But that’s the point. If there is doses that are getting thrown out anyway then it’s better they get put in the arm of anyone, regardless of need.

[manicinsomniac]

Ok, fair enough, I'll take your word for that. I thought they'd need to assess need and speed.

[Nicknacky]

@manicinsomniac It would be far far quicker to contact the police. It’s one phone call then a radio broadcast. And whoever is free could go.

[manicinsomniac]

saraclara well, that question applies equally in a police station or school doesn't it?

[manicinsomniac]

nicknacky Yes, fair enough. I was only thinking of one example where one phone call woukd reach the same number of people as phoning a police station. In reality, the doctors have the residents' own phone numbers anyway, probably not the warden's. But even if they phoned a police station, you've surely got time delay problems too - who needs it most, who can be spared from the station, who came into work in a car rather than on foot etc. It wouldn't be instant there either.

In an ideal world, it wouldn't happen anyway. For something nearly everyone wants, if you accept an appt, you should make bloody sure you get there! No shows should be exceptions for unforseen circs, not a regular and expected part of every session.

[saraclara]

For a start, how long do you think it would take just to contact those 10 or so residents?
Also who's going to decide which ten get the opportunity?

[Nicknacky]

Eco sun should be “explain”!

[manicinsomniac]

Yes, that's true saraclara . Sure it will get better with time. I know there are no easy answers.

[Nicknacky]

@manicinsomniac I think you need to be more realistic about timescales in your suggestion if sheltered housing being contacted at short notice.

For a start, how long do you think it would take just to contact those 10 or so residents? Then eco sun where going on and give them the directions on where to go and what to do when they get there.

And then take into account how long it would take to get to wherever they are to go.

[saraclara]

@manicinsomniac

They don't have a minibus!! They drive. Or walk. They're in their late 60s and 70s, not on death's door. Lots of group 5-9s live fully or semi independent lives and could act more quickly than people who'd have to get out of work.

Except excess vaccines don't come to light until near closing time. So working makes no difference.

The people to get annoyed with are those who don't turn up for their appointments, so wasting their vaccine and their slot.

[saraclara]

I can quite imagine that a better system for using leftover vaccines will come. But it's all very new at the moment and teething problems are inevitable. My local vaccine centre only opened four days ago, so they're learning all the time

My friend's husband is extremely vulnerable. She got a call literally ten minutes before the centre shut, from her GP who happened to be there, knew there were half a dozen vaccines left, and knew they could get there in five minutes. He also had their number to hand as they know each other (but only slightly) socially. She and her DH jumped in the car and he got his vaccination early. It's all pretty reactive at the moment, but it won't stay that way I don't think.
Yes, he got his vaccination because of a loose connection with the GP, so was very lucky. But I also bet that GP is now gathering together a list of patients who live near enough to be called at ten minutes notice.

[manicinsomniac]

They don't have a minibus!! They drive. Or walk. They're in their late 60s and 70s, not on death's door. Lots of group 5-9s live fully or semi independent lives and could act more quickly than people who'd have to get out of work.

[saraclara]

one call to the warden of the sheltered housing complex my mum lives on would get 10 vulnerable people on the doorstep within 20 minutes too.

I bet it wouldn't. It'd take half an hour for all ten to get ready and on a minibus.

[EmmanuelleMakro]

Posted elsewhere as there are myriads of identical threads on here. As a teacher I would gratefully accept it but am expecting a whole load of negativity from the usual suspects who swarm to pile on abuse at any practical suggestion to get schools back.