While welcoming the strong drive towards COVID-19 vaccination for school staff members which is currently underway, the Secretariat for Catholic Education and the Church Schools Association call for greater urgency and a more balanced vaccination roll-out amongst staff in all schools (State, Church and independent schools).
This follows reports that a number of Church schools have still not received any appointments for vaccinations for staff members. This situation is causing unnecessary stress and tension among staff members who feel they are being left out and are questioning the criteria used for vaccination appointments.
As the country faces a serious increase in COVID-19 cases and schools are being asked to remain open in order to ensure the education of students, it is imperative that all staff members feel they are being given the support they deserve. It is not acceptable to have a significant number of staff members in schools kept in the dark about when they will receive their vaccination appointments.
The Secretariat for Catholic Education and the Church Schools Association call on the Ministry for Education and the Ministry for Health to resolve this issue immediately by issuing vaccination appointments for staff members who have not yet received the appointments.