Griffiths in jabs plea for school staff

BURTON MP Kate Griffiths has urged the Government to look again at vaccinating teachers against Covid-19.

Ministers have faced calls to prioritise key workers such as teachers and police officers in the next phase of the rollout.

Speaking yesterday in a Commons debate, Ms Griffiths said vaccinating teachers would only take a few days and would help reduce community transmission.

She said: “I do understand the recommendations made by JCVI [Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation] regarding the risk of mortality to those working in schools, but if our priority is for children to return to the classroom, then vaccinating school staff will ensure schools stay open and reduce community transmission.

“Our vaccination programme has been a huge success so far – with a targeted effort, all school staff could be vaccinated within a few days. Not only will this keep our teachers safe, but it will keep schools open and children in the classroom which we know is right for them and the best thing for their future.”

Meanwhile, Downing Street has denied prisoners will be offered the vaccine ahead of other groups.

The JCVI is expected in the coming days to release its recommendations on the next phase of the vaccine rollout once the top nine priority groups – including all over-50s – have been offered in the jab.

The Times reported that while prisons would not be formally exempted from what is expected to remain an age-based approach, local teams would be given the flexibility to go into jails and vaccinate inmates and staff en masse.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman insisted there was no question of prisoners receiving the jab before other groups in society.

“That is obviously not the case and is not true. Prisoners won’t be prioritised for vaccines,” the spokesman said.