Watford nursery manager says frontline workers need Covid vaccine

More than 15 million people in the UK have received a first dose of the vaccine, the majority of whom make up the top four priority list created by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

But with schools looking likely to fully reopen in March, there have been calls for teachers to be vaccinated alongside other key workers, once older residents, NHS and social care staff and people with health conditions have received a vaccination.

Chloe O'Keefe, who works at a nursery in Watford, is backing a petition that has been set up by the Watford Liberal Democrats calling for frontline workers to be vaccinated next.

She said: "I feel all frontline workers should be able to get the vaccine to feel safe when they go to work.

"It shouldn’t be a 'postcode lottery', as I have seen in some areas people have been able to get the vaccine and in others this is not the case.

"All frontline workers deserve to be priority as they are expected to work, especially nurseries who are expected to stay open despite cases doubling week on week and have close contact with children who are unable to social distance."

Credit: PA

Ms O'Keefe added: "Children may not be high risk but the staff who work with them are at risk and because they love what they do they will continue to work and care for the children knowing that any day they could catch this deadly virus that has shut the whole country down. Front line workers deserve to be safe and have peace of mind when they carry out their vital role in the community."

Mark Watkin, opposition spokesperson for education at Hertfordshire County Council, said: "In spite of the Government correctly focusing on the need for our children and young people to be in education, the fact is that too many schools have been forced to either close completely or send whole year groups home because a member of staff has either contracted Covid-19 or been exposed to someone with it.

"The damage this has caused and will continue to cause to our children’s education, if nothing changes, is incalculable and potentially life changing.

"Teachers and early years’ practitioners, by the nature of their work, are far more likely to contract Covid-19.

"Identifying them as a priority group for vaccination, will ensure that they are properly protected and will make a massive difference to the ability for schools, pre-schools and nurseries to stay open.

"They will then be able to deliver a full curriculum, and address the damage being done to our children’s education in these challenging times."

More than 150 people have signed the Watford Liberal Democrats' petition which can be found here.