Why aren't they vaccinating teachers now?

[Dingdong99]

I just can't get my head around this

Surely if they vaccinate all the school staff, schools can reopen, kids can get on with their education

A lot of kids are really struggling now (and their parents). I just don't understand why they aren't prioritising schools reopening by vaccinating teachers

Am I missing something?

Tbf to OP, there’s some numpty on Times Radio right now saying “if we vaccinate the teachers then the schools can reopen” although Stig Abel has just immediately called him on it.

I kind of get you OP. Other countries, notably Indonesia, have prioritised those who work outside the home as a way of driving down infections. Obviously that includes teachers. But we're not doing that here, so ... 🤷

Many highly respected MPs have just joined the campaign, and this morning most papers are reporting the huge backlash about schools.

I am tired of talking about everything but children's welfare! So I will be joining every campaign going until they reopen schools. Our children the true victims of this pandemic, and it is up to you if you are happy to take this lying down, but I am not! I have an app with my MP via zoom this morning to discuss what can be done. I suggest you all contact your MP, join the campaign and lets get the schools open!

My understanding of the vaccine is that it does not stop you from catching coronavirus or passing it on. It just makes the effects of coronavirus less severe. So if all of the teachers had the vaccine and kids went back to school, the teachers could still pass it to the children, and the children could still pass it to eachother and take it home to their families meaning another whole family has to completely isolate for 10 days/2 weeks or whatever it is

@flapjackfairy

The other issue is they don't know if it prevents transmission yet so all the vaccinated teachers could potentially be infected v mildly and so be passing it along. There is no easy solution really until most people are vaccinated and in my opinion that needs to be kids as well because vulnerable children with medical conditions will always be at risk if they mix with an unpopulated cohort. I have an extremely vulnerable child myself and for us as a family it is hard to see how we can ever return to any kind of normality.

I don't understand this argument. Don't vaccinate teachers even though they are high risk of catching it as they may spread it without knowing? Why do school staff have to sacrifice their health for others? I'm tired of people acting like my life doesn't matter.

Yes vaccinating teachers won't stop community transmission but what's wrong with vaccinating people who are put at risk every day for their sake? People like supermarket staff, police and prison officers?

Surely their own health matters. As soon as high risk groups are done these groups should be done next.

@Dingdong99

I just can't get my head around this

Surely if they vaccinate all the school staff, schools can reopen, kids can get on with their education

A lot of kids are really struggling now (and their parents). I just don't understand why they aren't prioritising schools reopening by vaccinating teachers

Am I missing something?

If they vaccinated all teachers today it's still 3 months until the second dose and then another 2-3 weeks for that to kick in... so, schools could reopen in mid-May?

@LakeGeneva

I kind of get you OP. Other countries, notably Indonesia, have prioritised those who work outside the home as a way of driving down infections. Obviously that includes teachers. But we're not doing that here, so ... 🤷

Have you compared the general infection levels?

If our infection levels were low this would be possible.

People really should at least try to understand the situation the UK is in right now.

but what's wrong with vaccinating people who are put at risk every day for their sake? People like supermarket staff, police and prison officers?

I kind of agree with this. Am a bit hearing about people in my circle who tangentially work in healthcare but who have been at home throughout being vaccinated, while retail workers (including those over 50) are not. It does seem a bit arse about tit.

I'm flummoxed that you can't understand it. You need to start thinking about things so that you can grasp concepts. Watch the or listen to the news and read to keep up to date with things that are happening. And read opinion pieces in newspapers too so that you get different perspectives on subjects.

@Dingdong99

I see your points, I guess I'm just so depressed to hear that it's official that schools are closed until at least the summer term at the earliest

No official decision has been made either way yet, stop spreading bullshit.

If our infection levels were low this would be possible.

Yeah I guess.

Our government's mismanagement of this leaves us with fewer options at this stage. Just one of the many repercussions of 12 months of fuckups.

Once the vulnerable and elderly categories are vaccinated, then it won't actually matter if children pass it on to healthy people and family members, even if was proved that they are vectors (science does not support this, particularly in younger children)

The idea has never been to 'stop' covid, the point of the lockdown is to help the NHS cope. Assuming in a months' time most of those most at risk are vaccinated, and the hospitals are managing there is no reason whatsoever why we can't open schools! Young families are extremely low risk so have nothing to fear.

I think there's a strong argument for vaccinating school staff/police/prison officers/retail workers etc in group 10 in May once the 9 vulnerable groups have been done. With the 12 week wait for the second dose though they wouldn't be vaccinated until August.

I completely agree about community transmission and think we can't open yet.
But, why are we not applying the same argument about 'it's not worth vaccinating low risk teachers because they can still pass it on and the vulnerable need it more' to healthcare staff? We are vaccinating them, even the low risk admin staff because they 'are important'. If it doesnt prevent transmission or quarantine it won't lower risk to their patients so it surely is about their own personal wellbeing for being in a high risk role.
Which I agree with, but it seems previous posters think we shouldn't vaccinate people for their own wellbeing because they are in high risk roles? So do you all think we should stop vaccinating healthcare and social workers too?

@LakeGeneva

but what's wrong with vaccinating people who are put at risk every day for their sake? People like supermarket staff, police and prison officers?

I kind of agree with this. Am a bit hearing about people in my circle who tangentially work in healthcare but who have been at home throughout being vaccinated, while retail workers (including those over 50) are not. It does seem a bit arse about tit.

For months school staff have been told schools should be open as children don't spread it. Conveniently forgetting about the staff that work there.

Now the argument is that vaccinating teachers won't help families, conveniently forgetting about the staff on the front line and their own health.

I want schools to be open and safe for staff and families. I don't want to leapfrog vulnerable groups. I'm happy to wait my turn. But the way school staff are dismissed as nothing is wearing.

Many highly respected MPs no, many anti-scientific MPs.

The idea you can just open schools now by vaccinating teachers is STUPID.

Community transmission in the UK is really high. ICU units are full.

People need to try to be realistic - we are in a shit situation and spreading the virus more is not going to help anyone.

We have a "young family" (dc in middle of primary years) and are over 50. Can't say I've nothing to fear from him bringing Covid home.

To clarify, I think we should still hold off school opening until community transmission is down but make it a condition that school staff are vaccinated before they reopen.

[quote feelingquitehopeful]If you want to do something about opening schools then join the campaign!

usforthem.co.uk/[/quote]
Don’t. They are campaigning to guarantee school closures and massive community infection through opening schools with no mitigating measures at all. They are also very closely linked to the Conservative party but don’t like to share any of that information.

The healthy over 50s are not high risk, anyone that is not comfortable can stay home!

There is no way entire generation of children can be lost. It is an outrage as it is. France are going into a full lockdown this week, but are keeping schools open. I suggest we do the same.

I wonder why all these posts won't schools to stay closed, pref indefinitely. Reminds me of last summer, when we had one death a day and people were still screeching it is not safe.

We need to open schools urgently.

**want

@feelingquitehopeful

Once the vulnerable and elderly categories are vaccinated, then it won't actually matter if children pass it on to healthy people and family members, even if was proved that they are vectors (science does not support this, particularly in younger children)

The idea has never been to 'stop' covid, the point of the lockdown is to help the NHS cope. Assuming in a months' time most of those most at risk are vaccinated, and the hospitals are managing there is no reason whatsoever why we can't open schools! Young families are extremely low risk so have nothing to fear.

It appears you don't understand maths!

A small percentage of a very large number is still quite large.

Uncontrolled transmission amongst the working age population will result in full ICUs, meaning all other NHS treatment will still be on hold.

The hospitals won't be managing in month - the number in ICU is currently still increasing day on day.

Read the statistics.

Schools aren’t closed because of the risk to teachers. They’re closed because viruses spread so easily within them; they are essentially ‘mass participation events’. Vaccinating teachers would protect teachers; it wouldn’t stop pupils from passing the virus between each other and taking it home to their relatives.