Teachers/ school staff getting the vaccine sooner?

[NoCOVIDplease]

Will we be getting the vaccine sooner or not? There was some discussion of it, but it seems to have fizzled out?

No we won’t.

Not unless you're in a local authority who have decided to ignore the government nonsense about the virus being unable to penetrate the walls of schools

I teach abroad and teachers have been moved up in priority and are now eligible for appointments. Most likely going to be AstraZeneca, though.

If you're in England it's worth checking this link every so often if you aren't already. Although it says 56+ I believe in some areas they are ahead of that. It can be quicker than waiting to be contacted
www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/

@Fuzzyspringroll. I hope this gives some reassurance about the AZ vaccine.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-55302595

Thanks for posting that NHS link - I've just booked for next weekend.

I have an appointment but that's only because I'm 57. Being asthmatic and a teacher didn't give me any extra points. Bookings open to 56 and above now... My GP will probably be down to my age in October!!

I've had mine because I work in a special school. Local heads campaigned for us to have it under the same category as social care workers due to us not being able to social distance and having to perform personal care tasks.

I've heard of lots of school staff getting it more recently from mainstream although that's more due to age/other conditions

One of the surgeries doing vaccinations around here contacted all local schools and put any teaching staff who wanted it onto a call list so if they have any spare vaccine at the end of the day they contact us. Had mine yesterday thanks to that, as did the other KS2 teacher in my class and several other teachers judging from what I saw.

But it's the surgery that have chosen to prioritise teachers, not the government.
Judging by numbers, there looked to be a lot of "leftover vaccine that would otherwise go to waste" so I do wonder if the surgery disagrees with the government stance and has taken the decision to do us anyway It appears to be bending over backwards to vaccinate local teachers via this loophole.

Good for them!

I’ve put my name down on a call list at our local vaccine centre. They are just working through the list and calling people if they have leftovers at the end of the day. I imagine most centres will have the same kind of unofficial list, done may choose to prioritise different groups I guess. Unfortunately for me, our local centre has no interest in prioritising school staff!

@whatsleep how/where did you find the number to contact your local vaccination centre

@Fairyrainbow it is in our local church so I just popped in and asked. I imagine most centres are doing sometime similar to prevent wastage of any left at the end of the day. What city do you live in? Some of our local hospitals have a ‘wastage’ booking facility that you can book on Wednesdays to attend of Fridays. Apparently it’s in the nhs website. Hope you get sorted soon, I enentually got mine this week

My local vaccine centre refused me doing that and said even though I am 49 it would not be allowed. They are only giving leftovers to over 50's. And the police. And firemen. And, if local grumbles are to be credited, freemasons! Not teachers though!

It’s down to their digression I guess, which is shit if they choose Freemason over others. If you live in Leicestershire, The Glenfield hospital are allowing over 45s to book over the phone. plus the hospitals have a ‘wastage’ site where you can book a Friday appointment to have any left over vaccines. I think the wastage ones have to be booked 48 hours before attending. Worth phoning round. Good luck

Does anyone know where 'leftover' vaccines can be given to teachers'? My area isn't doing that in the slightest but I know of some areas of the UK that are giving oversupply of vaccines to literally anyone: even a 26 year old friend working from home with no health issues got one a couple of weeks ago. I don't begrudge her (or anyone!) the vaccine but I'm getting increasingly annoyed at the system and being told by my own area that teachers just have to wait, when others who are working from home and younger are being vaccinated. My friend (mid 30s) has developed long Covid and it's completely debilitating for her and that's really scared me. I'd be wiling to drive a few hours to get hold of an extra vaccine if there was a chance of getting one but I don't know where to go... Those of you who have managed to get a vaccine through oversupply and 'jump the queue' as the media are so kindly putting it, what areas are you in of you don't mind me asking? I'm in Surrey and there's no chance here... Yet according to TeacherTapp (which I believe is used most by the younger demographic), around half of teachers have had the vaccine??

[quote Farthingale]@Fuzzyspringroll. I hope this gives some reassurance about the AZ vaccine.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-55302595[/quote]
Thanks. I've had my first one now and got the Biontech/Pfizer one. Second dose in May.
Most of our staff at school have now had at least the first dose (that includes anyone working in a school or nursery setting...doesn't have to be a teacher).

@Justkeepswimming321 try phoning your local hospitals, they all have some kind of ‘left overs’ waiting list. Phone of visit anywhere local to you that is vaccinating and put your name down there too. There are no hard and fast rules about who gets the left overs, it just seems to be down to the individual clinics to ensure they aren’t wasted.

If my area one of the pharmacy chain contacted schools and had appointments for teachers just before closing. However they were told to stop or lose their license. I've not had mine yet. It's irritating me because everyone seems to think that all teachers are vaccinated. They also don't realise quite how many students secondary school teachers are mixing with. 170 in one day for me just before Easter. One of my friends was lucky enough to get one as he husbands friend is working at the vaccination centre so phoned and said you have 10 mins to get here.

Wow good for the pharmacy! What a shame they were forced to stop though! Your friend was lucky. Yes, it's irritating me too... Especially when I see people on social media having had theirs and saying things like 'right place at the right time'! The irony is that by the time we finally get our vaccines it will be the end of the school year...

@whatsleep thanks - going to ring round tomorrow. May I ask what area you are in as I'm happy to drive a long way if necessary to get it! Feel free to PM me if you don't want to put publicly your location? Many thanks indeed!

@Justkeepswimming321 I’m in Leicestershire, the Glenfield Hospital is allowing you to make appointments if you are over 45 but also have a wastage list for left over vaccines. For this you can go on the website from Wednesday to book an appointment for that Friday. I have some teacher colleges who are in their 30s who have got appointments via the wastage list. Hope this helps.

Thank you SO much. I hugely, hugely appreciate this. Seriously!

@Justkeepswimming321 fingers crossed you manage to get a booking somewhere soon!

Sorry for butting in.

The online booking site is now open to 45+

www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/

Best wishes for a good safe summer term.

In my area (Hampshire), our headteacher secured vaccines for staff. I'm only 38 so very lucky!