NAHT comments on JCVI decision over prioritising teachers for vaccination

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders' union NAHT, said: “School teams are being relied upon to lead the country out of the pandemic. They are being required to work with large groups of people who carry at least as much potential for infection as anyone else. Those groups often occupy confined and unventilated spaces for long periods of time with only rudimentary PPE.

“The fact that it may have added some complexity to roll out is not a good enough reason not to prioritise the needs of committed professionals. A sick teacher is a teacher away from class which will mean further disruption to pupil’s education and could well mean that they may need to be educated from home again.

“I am amazed by the continuing dedication of school teams. The government has let them down at every turn.”