Nursery workers have ‘good case’ to be prioritised for Covid-19 vaccine, says Hancock
Fiona Simpson
Thursday, January 7, 2021
Nursery workers and teachers have a “good case” to be prioritised for the Covid-19 vaccine, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said.
Speaking to the health and social care committee about the latest coronavirus developments, Hancock was grilled on plans to prioritise critical workers, including education staff, in the next stage of the vaccine rollout.
Currently, both the Pfizer and Oxford AstraZeneca jabs are only being issued to those aged over 50, and all those 16 years old and over in a high-risk group.
Children’s social workers are currently listed in the second priority group, however, calls have been made for all professionals working with vulnerable children in settings such as nurseries and children’s homes to be added to this list.
The Health Secretary stated that “the government is committed to the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation’s priority list for vaccination”.
“The order after the first priority list is not yet decided but teachers, nursery staff, police and other key workers do have a good case,” he added.
The comment comes after early years leaders called for staff to be prioritised when Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced childcare settings would remain open during a third national lockdown in England.
Nurseries in Wales have also been ordered to remain open despite heightened restrictions.
June O’Sullivan, chief executive of the London Early Years Foundation (LEYF) which runs 39 nurseries across the capital, said that without the vaccine settings may be forced to close due to staff shortages, risking providers’ ability to receive funding for 15 hours’ free childcare places and grants for the most disadvantaged children.
O’Sullivan said: “The government must vaccinate all nursery and childcare workers as part of the 13.2m ‘priority' people – along with immediate access to free testing, currently available to other essential workers.
“So far, ministers have failed to give any valid explanation as to why the early years is not being prioritised after society's most vulnerable groups and NHS workers have been given the jab.
“Funding from local authorities for the most vulnerable children could be under threat if nurseries are forced to close because staff are off sick with the virus or needing to self-isolate; or if parents are too nervous to bring their children to nursery.
“We saw this during the first lockdown when some of the children living in our most deprived communities kept children indoors for weeks and needed to be coaxed into bringing their children back to nursery. This is deeply concerning as thousands of nursery places will be in jeopardy by the spring – and thousands of valuable early years learning lost.
“Nurseries are the lifeline in keeping people in work and the economy afloat which is why this essential service must be fully supported by the government."
A petition to prioritise teachers, school and childcare staff for the vaccine has so far amassed more than 300,000 signatures, meaning it is set to be debated in parliament on Monday.
