Published 31 January 2021, updated 1 February 2021
Over the weekend schools contacted teachers within east Kent inviting them to make a booking for their Covid-19 vaccinations through the vaccination portal.
Unfortunately this communication should have stipulated that these staff had to fit into the priority groups set out by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, but it didn’t do so. As a result, these bookings will need to be cancelled in order to allow access for those people in the current priority groups.
However, if you are a teacher affected and you do meet one of the three criteria below, you can rebook. Otherwise you must wait until the vaccination programme reaches your age group.
- aged over 70
- clinically extremely vulnerable as defined by the national guidance
- teachers and staff at special schools working directly with children with complex health needs; and therefore defined as frontline carers
If you do re-book, you will be asked to declare you are in one of the current priority groups listed above. When you attend for your vaccination you will be asked to bring proof of age (photo ID such as passport of driving licence) and / or your letter confirming your status as clinically extremely vulnerable. If you do not bring evidence with you unfortunately your vaccination will be declined.
Kent and Medway NHS has written to schools to clarify the situation for teachers and communicate how those teachers who meet the specific criteria for vaccination can re-book their vaccination appointment.
We understand that this situation has been difficult for people who booked their vaccination in good faith, and we have updated the website to make it clearer that people need to be within one of the current priority groups for the vaccine.
You can find more information on the Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group website.
