In light of concerns raised in recent TAG briefings, and an increase in attendance at school hubs, will the Welsh Government prioritise vaccinations to protect school teachers managing childcare hubs?
The latest TAG report, published on 08 January, is clear on education’s contribution to our efforts to deal with the virus. The decisions we have taken to move to remote learning is not because schools are now more unsafe or pose a higher risk for teachers and children. Instead, this is about limiting the amount of community transmission.
We are working to the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) priority schedule. The JCVI is the expert body which advises all four UK governments, and the priority schedule of vaccination we are working to is the same as the schedule for England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The JCVI has set out that the first priorities for the vaccination programme should be the prevention of deaths relating to COVID-19, and the protection of health and social care staff and systems. Education practitioners who are over 60 or clinically vulnerable will be vaccinated soon under the JCVI priority order. We have already set out that those staff whose role is to provide intimate personal care for some of our most vulnerable children with complex medical needs will be included as part of the priority list for vaccination, in line with social care workers.