Teachers seek leftover vaccines as anger rises
DESPERATE teachers have been turning up at the vaccination centre at IT Sligo hoping to get vaccinated with leftover vaccines, The Sligo Champion can reveal.
As the centre winds down in the evenings, teachers have been calling into the centre asking if they could be vaccinated with any leftover vaccines.
The Champion understands that the teachers were informed of the protocols in place and that they could not be vaccinated.
It is a a sign of how desperate a situation teachers feel they are in with no sign that they will be put into a priority group with the Government moving towards age related vaccination over the coming months after the vulnerable groups have received their vaccinations.
Indeed, there is deep anger amongst teachers which will surface at the annual conferences of the teaching unions this week. Balloting on possible strike action over the issues is a real possibility in the coming weeks.
ASTI general secretary and Sligo native, Kieran Christie said “anger is so palpable that there will be a strong mandate to secure a reversal of the decision and reinstatement of teachers to a priority category”.
Leaders of the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO), the Association of Secondary Teachers’ Ireland (ASTI) and Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) are preparing motions for discussion at the conferences which began yesterday (Monday).
The unions may agree a common motion, or they may opt to debate different motions, but ultimately, the conferences are likely to seek support for ballots for some form of industrial action.
The timing of this is not known at this stage. It is understood there is no threat to the scheduled re-opening of schools for all pupils next Monday, April, 12, but mounting anger could see disruption later in the term.
What form this takes is open to speculation but students and parents, already under a great deal of pressure through missed weeks and overall disrupted lives will be hoping, especially those in exam years that it is kept to a minimum.
Minister for Education, Norma Foley addressed the INTO conference on Monday and will speak to TUI delegates on Wednesday. The ASTI did not invite the minster to its conference.
There has been mounting anger among teachers since the Cabinet last week agreed to change the national vaccination programme to an age-based system. Vaccines will be distributed by descending age group once jabs have been given to those aged 70 and over, and people considered vulnerable and with those with underlying conditions.
Teachers, particularly those aged in their 20s and 30s, feel they have been pushed far down the priority list.
Depending on the roll-out, which has already been subject to some delays, younger teachers fear it could be well into the autumn or even winter before they are vaccinated.