Fórsa met public health specialists last Wednesday (24th March) to highlight the need for the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) to clarify when SNAs and other schools staff would begin to receive Covid-19 vaccinations.
The vaccination rollout has been delayed because of limited vaccine supplies. People aged over 70, and those with severe underlying medical conditions, are currently being vaccinated. The vaccination programme will then move on to other categories, including education staff, and the intention is to vaccinate many of those groups at the same time.
Fórsa continues to make representations to have schools staff prioritised for the vaccination.
Fórsa continues to make representations to have schools staff prioritised for the vaccination. It has highlighted the fact that staff in special schools and classes are working alongside healthcare staff who have already been vaccinated under the rollout for HSE staff.
The union has called for SNAs to be included in the vaccine rollout for healthcare staff.
The Department of Education told the union that it had made clear to the health department that special education staff should be prioritised for vaccination, and that special education should be the priority when vaccines are rolled out to education staff.
The union was also told that NIAC is reviewing the vaccination schedule and will shortly be reporting to Government on possible changes. Fórsa continues to make representations to NPHET and NIAC on the matter.
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