Peterborough schools offered Covid-19 vaccines ahead of priority groups

Thousands of jabs were to be given to staff ahead of the over-70s which is against government recommendations, before the decision was swiftly reversed.

According to a report in the Daily Telegraph, the U-turn came after intervention from senior government and NHS officials.

Schools and early years settings were informed earlier this week that staff would be eligible for vaccinations, only to be told a short time later that this was no longer the case.

The Telegraph has also reported that jabs had been secured for council children’s services staff in secondary schools who are said to be working from home.

According to the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), priority should go to those aged 80 and above, as well as frontline health and social care workers.

With the majority of those people having now been vaccinated, those aged 70 and above and clinically extremely vulnerable individuals are next in line to be offered vaccines.

A spokesperson for Peterborough City Council and Cambridgeshire County Council said: “Our top priority is to ensure the vaccine is offered to those who are most vulnerable.

“In line with JCVI national priorities, this includes residents of care homes, the over-80s and those providing frontline health and social care.

“By offering to these groups we are following the national guidelines and Cambridgeshire County Council, Peterborough City Council and the local NHS are working hard to ensure these groups receive their jabs and not a drop of vaccine is wasted.

“As part of this work, other groups on the national priority list levels 3 and 4 are beginning to be invited to come forward for vaccinations.

“Today (Tuesday), we have clarified to schools and early years settings across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough that at this stage the eligibility for the vaccine will only include staff who provide personal care and support.

“But we have also started to collect data from schools and other priority groups to be ready should the national guidelines allow us to provide wider vaccination at a later stage to people in these settings.

“We will continue to prioritise people for vaccines following JCVI guidelines.”

The Government is aiming to make sure the top four priority groups are offered their first jab by the middle of February before then looking to offer it to other key workers, which could include teachers and police officers.

A spokesperson for the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group said: “The NHS in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough provides vaccination appointment slots for the local authority, who are asked to ensure those invited are in line with the priority groups set out by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation and in accordance with national guidance”.

MP for Peterborough Paul Bristow said: “I have spoken with Peterborough City Council and a message was sent in error to schools about who might be eligible for vaccination. Incorrect information in the message was subsequently clarified.

“It’s important that we follow the expert Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation recommendations to vaccinate those at the greatest risk of death and serious illness.

“I am reassured that Peterborough City Council share this view.”

A number of GP surgeries in Peterborough are currently carrying out the vaccination programme.