Greens: Vaccinate special school staff
Staff working at special schools in Scotland should be prioritised for COVID vaccination alongside health and care staff, the Scottish Greens have said. This comes after the announcement that some special school staff in Northern Ireland will be prioritised.
Education secretary John Swinney last week indicated that consideration was being given to the prioritisation of special school staff but that no decision had yet been made.
Scottish Greens education spokesperson Ross Greer has now written to the Scottish Government, asking that they follow the Northern Irish Executive’s example and confirm that special school staff will receive COVID vaccinations as soon as possible.
Commenting, Ross Greer said:
“Many special school staff perform roles similar to that of social care workers, a group who are rightly being prioritised for access to the vaccine. The Education secretary has already accepted this point.
“For many pupils at special schools, remote learning is simply impossible and the pressures on families from losing the support offered by their school are immense. Northern Ireland have rightly recognised the unique need of special school staff and pupils. It is time for the Scottish Government to do the same.”