LOCAL Liberal Democrats are backing their party in calling for the vaccination of teachers against COVID-19 to be given more priority.
The Party’s national Education Spokesperson has written to Matt Hancock and Gavin Williamson asking them to move teachers up into a higher category.
Cllr Ian Marks, the local Spokesperson on Health says, “ I very much support this move. The Government has admitted schools are now a centre of high community transmission and teachers and support staff have put themselves at enormous risk in order to keep schools open. They should be treated as a priority in the same way as health and care staff and those at most risk by virtue of their age.
“Our schools are working closely with Council staff and are doing a great job but they are being badly let down by the incompetence and indecision of the government. This has led to unnecessary stress and worry for parents trying to juggle the competing demands of children and work.
“We all welcome the rollout of the vaccines and congratulate the scientists on the speed of development. But the delivery chain from production facility to people’s arms has been poor. For example, pharmacists are offering to deliver jabs but the government has not yet allowed this. Why ever not, considering pharmacies have a proven record of giving flu jabs? The government needs to get its act together and take decisive action sooner rather than later.
“We join with others in urging everyone to be vaccinated once they receive the call. In this way we can all play our part in helping defeat this dreadful disease.”
