Vaccinate teachers to get schools back open: The Yorkshire Post says

This is a deeply regrettable state of affairs which makes it imperative that the Government presses ahead with the vaccination of teachers as a priority. This could be accomplished very speedily. At current vaccination rates, Britain’s 500,000 teachers could – in theory at least – receive their initial jabs in little more than a day. The second dose of the vaccine could be administered with similar promptness, giving school staff the high level of immunity they would need.

Given the Government’s stance has rightly been that schools should open first and close last in the pandemic, it is only right that its policy should match that ambition.

Despite the best efforts of teachers and parents, home-schooled children are struggling to maintain their educational levels and suffering with the mental challenges of lockdown. These are problems which will only get worse the longer schools are shut.

And the effects of having children at home for months on end result in an incalculable impact on the working lives of parents and potentially on the wider economy, which is already suffering grievously as a result of the pandemic.

Getting schools open again must be at the top of the Government’s agenda.

Nobody wishes to see a new upsurge in Covid-19 cases, and ministers, teachers and parents alike should take heart from the evidence given to MPs by the deputy chief medical officer, Jenny Harries, that schools do not appear to have been significant spreaders of the virus.

It is in everybody’s interests for them to reopen. Vaccinating teachers is the way to make that happen.

Support The Yorkshire Post and become a subscriber today. Your subscription will help us to continue to bring quality news to the people of Yorkshire. In return, you’ll see fewer ads on site, get free access to our app and receive exclusive members-only offers. Click here to subscribe.