Teachers in the Riverina are joining the statewide campaign to be made a priority for the COVID-19 vaccination once it becomes available in Australia.
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Under the current arrangements devised by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation, the federal government will begin rolling out the long-awaited vaccine to people with high-risk jobs and health conditions by the end of February.
During phase 1a and 1b, will inoculate quarantine and border workers, frontline health, disability and aged care staff, elderly Australians, Indigenous Australians and meat process workers.
Following that, in phase 2 and 3, the remaining adult population and if recommended, children will be given the vaccination.
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Independent Education Union (IEU) organiser for the Riverina, Lynn Caton said ideally teachers would be vaccinated against the virus by term 2 at the latest.
"The IEU believes that vaccination of all school staff, regardless of location, should be prioritized for either phase 1 or phase 2," Ms Caton said.
"Ultimately, it is a question for medical professionals as to the timetable of the vaccine rollout," Ms Caton said. "Term 2 would be a realistic timeframe."
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While the Independent school alliance has spearheaded the campaign to be given priority, Ms Caton said it was not about jumping ahead of teachers in the public and private sectors.
"The IEU is advocating for all school staff, regardless of sector, to receive early vaccination," Ms Caton said.
Since the pandemic began in Australia last March, more than 50 NSW schools and 20 early learning centres have had confirmed cases of COVID-19, requiring partial or complete shutdown for a period of time.
So far, there have been no cases linked to schools in the Riverina.
Ms Caton said it was paramount that schools keep their doors open this year to avoid a second year of disrupted learning.
"I represent a strong contingent of IEU members across the Riverina area and we all want our schools to open next week and stay open, and this strategy will ensure that happens," Ms Caton said.
IEU branch secretary for NSW/ACT Mark Northam commended the efforts of staff during 2020's lockdowns and periods of learning-from-home.
"[...] Teachers and support staff in 2020 did a sterling job in keeping schools open," Mr Northam said.
"The communities that they serve recognise that and they don't want education to be disrupted."
The NSW Department of Health and NSW Department of Education were both contacted for comment regarding the possibility of rolling out the vaccine early.