Jabs for special school staff discussed
ROYAL BOROUGH: Vaccinations for staff at special education schools was discussed at the council’s COVID outbreak and engagement board this week.
Kevin McDaniel, director of children’s services, said that if pupils have ‘high vulnerability to significant illness and death’ from the virus, then staff at these establishments should be protected.
But he added at Monday’s meeting that this is not the case for ‘every special school’ and that if health is not at further risk, then staff will not be given the jab at this stage.
“I am really clear that those staff and those schools should be at the front of the education queue when that situation changes nationally,” Mr McDaniel said, adding that himself and Cllr Stuart Carroll, the lead member for health, would be keeping a ‘close eye’ on developments.
Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Carroll said that the vaccination programme was an NHS-led process, and that the health service is following strict policies from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).
The JCVI assists the NHS in determining which groups should be administered the vaccine and in what order.
Cllr Carroll said that ‘in some circumstances’, frontline social care staff could be deemed eligible for a vaccine if they work with clinically vulnerable pupils.
The JCVI’s definition of such conditions includes cystic fibrosis, severe asthma and kidney disease.
The health lead added he is open to discussing this with schools which are concerned about staff vaccinations, in order to ensure ‘the spirit of the guidance is being totally honoured’.
Porters, cleaners and drivers are among “unsung heroes” according to someone at the sharp end of the vaccine rollout. “They deliver everything to us and help with the logistics of the operation. They’ve done a massive job and we really need them,” confirmed Public Health Agency Northern Ireland Director of Nursing Deirdre Webb.
“Then we have a huge volunteer workforce helping people get to clinics. They are all the unsung heroes of this,” added the Belfast 57 year-old.
“We hope to see promising results in the springtime. We have small teams helping to deliver the vaccine in patient’s homes.
“Then vaccinations are also being given at GP surgeries and mass vaccination centres.”
“Everyone has been so enthusiastic and very keen to help out,” continued Deirdre, herself set to be trained as a vaccinator. I’ve been in nursing for 40 years and this has been the biggest vaccination programme I’ve ever been involved with.’’