Unlocking Ireland - thread uimhir a seacht!

[LifeInAHamsterWheel]

A shiny new thread for us all to talk pure shite whilst we wait for lockdown to end

I've done serious damage in the Arnotts sale !! But for kitchen ware mostly.. never thought of pillows!

I'll take a look at both of them thanks so much

@halfpasteleven we got some in Homestore and More - they have held their shape well since August, and I am sleeping on one pillow now instead of two piled up.

Previous pillows were cheaper ones from Penneys, and had to be replaced fairly regularly as they went flat. Such a waste now that I think of it

I recommend dunnes for pillows too.

I only ever buy from Arnotts when the sale is on they do have some fab stuff!

@LifeInAHamsterWheel Me too. The sale reductions are not to be missed.

I usually get pillows in M&S, have tried others from Home Store & More and IKEA, but they weren't the same.

Ikea do a nice L shaped pillow (I'm sure it has a proper name but I don't know it). Bought one on a whim once as you do and it's a revelation! You'd want a proper pillow too though tbf.

What are the teachers striking about now. It is on RTE now

@Sarahtrue11

What are the teachers striking about now. It is on RTE now

They were promised priority vaccinations back during discussions on reopening, but that's been scrapped under the new vaccination schedule. They'll now be vaccinated by age, like everyone else.

I'd be pretty pissed off if I was them too, although I can see how the new roll out "should be" more efficient across the board.

The entire thing is a pain in the hole at this stage. I just want my jab, pack up the car, and head off to see my family. I was last up home in September.

The thing I don't quite get about it is that there's a priority category for people in crowded workspaces, am I right? I don't see how the standard Irish classroom is anything other than crowded. Surely most teachers come under that category then.

I'm not too fussed about the schedule change personally because I wouldn't be too much at risk. But I'm pissed on behalf of some of my older colleagues who would be at risk. And I'm annoyed that promises made to get us back in the buildings are now being reneged on.

To say nothing of SNAs and teachers in special schools who I really feel should be offered the jab. There's so much personal care in a lot of their roles.

@AnnieJ1985 They are being selfish idiots in my opinion. Over 70's haven't even all been vaccinated yet. Of course the elderly (who are much more at risk) should be vaccinated before teachers, (generally a young population). Christ almighty they are bloody selfish.

They should be vaccinated by age like everyone else.

@SionnachRua I don't think that they have thought this through. Yes it is important that teachers and SNA's are vaccinated, but not before the elderly population of Ireland are vaccinated.

If teachers are vaccinated now, it will delay the elderly population of Ireland being vaccinated, and that is not right.

By age is the most important way to do it. I am annoyed that there is going to be industrial action. More stress for parents.

Teachers are not looking to be vaccinated before the elderly. And unions/teachers don't need to work according to what suits parents best.

I won't be engaging with you on the topic further as you've made your bias and lack of knowledge quite clear. Same strategy for our friend rady.

I think anyone who works in a crowded space or public area should be able to get vaccinated before those of us who don't. I'd include teachers, SNAs, Gardai, supermarket workers, bus drivers etc etc. I can literally sit in my house for months, working away, and not have to physically interact with anyone. Teachers will mix with 20-30 (or many more) kids coming from different households. If I had to mix with that many people daily, and I'd been told that I'd get a vaccine "soon" to reduce my risk, I'd be mightily pissed off if that was removed.

Going by age might be the quickest way to do it across the board, as it is easier to define who is next, but that could be done while still prioritising those who are more at risk of encountering Covid in the community. I don't think any teachers were suggesting they'd jump the queue on the 70s+ in any case.

Even if they started the teachers immediately after vulnerable people (though I note the unions only want the seriously vulnerable done first ) the teachers would not be done before the end of term.

What matters is that they're done before September and that will happen unless the whole supply chain falls apart.

Talking about strikes when there are 4 years of secondary school who haven't been to school since December and while the LC students are trying to get to grips with their LC is just unreasonable I think.

Teachers have gone to their workplace for less than 4 months of the pandemic. Gardai, prison officers, shop workers, those in supply chain, food production and manufacture, bus and train drivers have been going to their workplaces day in day out. I have huge sympathy for those working with children with significant special needs as their teachers are in close proximity like healthcare workers would be. They are the one group of teachers I would like to see prioritised.

The whole prioritisation has been based on risk of serious illness or death and a 50 or 60 year old has a much greater risk than a 25 year old whether or not they are a teacher. Luke O'Neill posted a good graph showing the % per decade based on age. Based on the science you just can't justify doing chunks of the under 40s (.2% risk of death) before older people. theconversation.com/why-are-older-people-more-at-risk-of-coronavirus-133770

I do understand that teachers are upset but it is also worth remembering that not all teachers agree that they should be prioritised. There were ones on the radio this morning who said they'd much prefer their parents in their 60s were done first, others who were really unhappy at the idea of further damage to their students education.

Wool pillows are the best pillows ever - they have the support of synthetics but are breathable rather than sweaty, they plump up like feather but spring back into shape rather than staying flat, and unlike feather and most synthetics they're resistant to dust mites and mould spores so great for asthma sufferers.

You do pay for the privilege, though they last for years and years.

Two Irish companies doing them are woolow.com/ and www.baavet.ie

I understand why teachers are upset about this. The older cohort of teachers and SNA's should be offered the vaccination, certainly, and I'm saying this while my own mother is waiting for her first dose.

If we don't value the teaching profession, our own children will lose out as people will not be drawn to the profession due to the lack of respect and understanding among the public and in the media.

I'm also not debating this any further.

My three kids are in their twenties, none are teachers, but some friends are. One of my kids is in health care and has had her first vaccine.
I'm currently not working, as I'm non essential retail but in May I might be back in work. I'd like vaccinated first...but think people in supermarkets, and in food service should be prioritised.
Realistically, age groups would be the most straightforward system, and follow the path of who is most likely to be very sick.

@SionnachRua

Teachers are not looking to be vaccinated before the elderly. And unions/teachers don't need to work according to what suits parents best.

I won't be engaging with you on the topic further as you've made your bias and lack of knowledge quite clear. Same strategy for our friend rady.

Bias? This affects all of us, so people are allowed to be upset over it. My elderly disabled mother has been waiting for a vaccine for ages, and so has my elderly aunty. I am also thinking of other elderly people I know in Ireland who have barely left their homes. No way do I think a young teacher should get it beofre them

On the Irish Independent it says that the teaching unions have said this:

"If the Government does not agree to schedule vaccinations by the end of the current school year, based on their demands, the motion is seeking support for ballot of members for industrial action, up to and including strike action."

The end of the secondary school year is the end of May. It is mid-April now, and over 70's haven't been vaccinated yet, and the teachers want to be vaccinated by the end of May. So they ARE looking to be vaccinated before the elderly.

Well I don't think it will happen. But it was a very stupid thing for them to do. I have talked to a lot of people about it today, and they are all shocked at the teachers. It has been pointed out that many other frontline staff, nurses, gardai, doctors, cae workers have been working all through the pandemic. Teachers have been working from home for most of the Pandemic

*care workers

Now offering the others vaccines besides AZ to anyone under 30 due to blood clothing issues. Just on BBC.

No way do I think a young teacher should get it beofre them I have to disagree with you, elderly can go out their business wearing a mask, handwashing, avoiding personal contact. Teachers don't have that luxury.
It has been pointed out that many other frontline staff, nurses, gardai, doctors, cae workers have been working all through the pandemic.
All these workers wear full ppe and have had their vaccine excluding the Gardai and child care workers none of these workers are in a room with 30 little snotty DC.
My sons sna has no choice but to be up close and personal.
Teacher, creche worker, gardai, prison officer should be prioritised after the vunerable and over 70's.

@HaHaVeryBunny

Now offering the others vaccines besides AZ to anyone under 30 due to blood clothing issues. Just on BBC.

Is that across the EU or UK only?

I like the sound of the wool pillows MarDhea. Do they feel quite heavy and dense? I like a firm pillow.

@Emeraldshamrock the difference is that an Elderly person is far more likely to die of Covid than a younger person, it doesn't matter how many snotty-nosed kids that a person is around.

So a teacher might be at risk of catching Covid. An elderly person is at risk of dying from Covid.

It is a risk based assessment. That is why they are doing it by age. Which teachers know. I am still shocked at the teachers tbh

It is about how much at risk of death you are. It absolutely should be age based not career based. I don't see the governent giving into the teacher's demands.