The delay of vaccine supplies makes it all the more critical that people do everything they can to stop the spread of the coronavirus and keep everyone safe.
That’s what Delta Teachers’ Association president Susan Yao is urging following the recent news that teachers will not be part of prioritized groups to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
Saying they understand currently the roll-out is based on prioritizing those most vulnerable due to age, Yao said older Delta teachers will be able to access the vaccine relatively quickly, but teachers are also hopeful that issues with production and distribution can be resolved so that everyone working in schools can have access.
“Teachers care about their students, their colleagues and the communities in which they teach and live. While the DTA has been assured by the Delta School District that ventilation in Delta schools meets and exceeds provincial standards, adequate ventilation is only one of the ‘layers of protection’ available to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” Yao told the Optimist.
“While the PHO (public health officer) has not yet added mask-wearing measures for K-12 students, except in certain circumstances, like areas of cohorts mixing such as in hallways at secondary schools, the addition of mandatory mask-wearing as another layer of protection is what teachers are asking for. At this time it is not possible for physical-distancing measures to work in most elementary and secondary classes, so that layer of protection is often not available for teachers and students. With the rise of the variant that is far more transmissible, masks and smaller classes are ever more critical to keep everyone safe."
In a recent statement regarding the province’s vaccination roll-out plan, B.C. Teachers’ Federation president Teri Mooring said teachers, like many others, are disappointed to see there is no prioritization for the frontline workers who have kept schools, public services and the economy open.
She said that, hopefully, more vaccines are approved and the supply increases so that the immunization strategy can be appropriately adjusted and accelerated.
“There is no denying that teachers are stressed, anxious, and even afraid," said Mooring. "We do not have the layers of protection in our schools that exist in other environments. If teachers are not prioritized for a vaccine, this government must take immediate action to improve safety measures in our schools. We must have a mandatory mask mandate, we must have better physical distancing measures, and we must have ventilation upgrades for our classrooms. Schools need the same safety measures as every single other workplace. This government and school districts must do more.”
