Northampton people think teaching staff should be prioritised for Covid jab - here's what they said

It is the Government’s target for everyone in the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation’s (JCVI) top four priority groups to have had their first Covid vaccine dose by Monday, February 15.

These groups are:

One – residents in a care home for older adults and their carers

Two – all those aged 80 and over and frontline health and social care workers

Three – all those aged 75 and over

Four – all those aged 70 and over and the clinically extremely vulnerable (shielding)

The Association of School and College Leaders said the past few months of the pandemic had put English schools under “enormous pressure”, calling for education staff to be prioritised for the vaccine.

Labour has also argued this week that teachers should be vaccinated in a bid to reopen schools – which are shut until atleast March 8.

But Chronicle & Echo readers say it shouldn’t be just teachers who are given the vaccine - essential workers should be among those invited for a Covid jab too.

We asked who you thought should be next in line for a Covid jab after those in the first four groups.

This is what you said on the Chron Facebook page:

Sarah Bishop said: “Yes they should, if they want it, but the children will still be able to spread the virus amongst themselves and take it home to their families.

Lindsey Atkinson said: “The teachers should be vaccinated to protect themselves as well as the children as I’m not overly confident in sending my children back to school as we don’t know if it’s going to be safe.”

Lesley Whitmore added: “Yes - healthy teaching staff are key to getting pupils back to full time learning. Secondary age teachers come into contact with ages 11-18 every day of the week. They come from family groups who have potential to spread virus.”

Stuart O'Brien added: What about the school admin staff, the cleaners, the caretakers? Schools have more staff than just teachers to keep them open.

It’s like we only praise nurses and drs. What about the hospital cleaners and porters?”

Daniel Chilvers commented: “I agree teachers should be prioritised, but the issues in schools is asymptomatic children passing it to the parents... because you’re not gonna stop the kids mixing, all the time.”

Maria Angela Gammidge said: “All essential workers should be vaccinated. Doctors, postal staff, nurses, police, warehouse staff, retail, firefighters, teachers, care home staff, nursery staff. The list continues… let’s keep the front line safe.”

Lynda Barnes said: “Definitely, if they want children back into a safer school environment then vaccinating all school staff is the way forward.”

Deborah-Anne Hales commented: “Considering kids catch everything going and can’t have vaccinations against covid I think teachers should get it ASAP. They are risking their lives for our children and their futures.”