The body that represents school governors in Powys has called on Powys politicians to back their bid for teachers to be “urgently” vaccinated before the schools fully reopen.
The Governors Consultative Committee (GCC) has written to local members of the Senedd, as well as Powys MPs Craig Williams and Fay Jones, ahead of schools starting their phased reopening next week.
In a lengthy email, shared with MyWelshpool, GCC Chair, Susan Hill, has outlined a number of reasons as to why teachers, teaching assistants and nursery workers should be vaccinated as a matter or urgency.
“They are not the only group of front-line key-workers who need to be vaccinated to keep them safe and carry out their essential functions, but these groups will have their own spokespersons and lobbyists,” said Ms Hill.
“The Governors Consultative Committee for Powys County Council, representing all governing bodies in the county, wishes to make the argument for vaccinating school staff.”
As well as outlining the physical and mental reasons for their urgency, the email also explains the wider economic reasons, saying it is “in the interests of getting the economy moving, and keeping as many jobs as we can”.
“We would argue strongly that vaccinating teaching staff is key to achieving this and to maintaining it,” it states.
More worryingly, the honesty of children is exposing that many families have been flouting the Level 4 restrictions.
“School environments are as safe as we can make them, with all the measures we are taking, but we cannot cover what goes on outside school. Children tell us that they are still mixing with others who do not live with them, going to parties and having sleepovers.
“All these things cause stress and anxiety for school staff, not just for themselves but for those they are going home to. To keep them safe, to allow them to relax and just get on with educating our children and grandchildren it makes sense to vaccinate them before schools are opened back up for more pupils.
“In summary, we would like the priority lists to include teachers, teaching assistants and pre-school workers. If they could be allowed to at least register for reserve slots so that vaccine does not go to waste through non-attendance, this would be a start and would not take away from existing priority groups. Please consider the benefits of doing so.”
The vaccination programme has been an overwhelming success in Powys with three main centres and 16 GP practices all involved.