HUNDREDS of residents across mid Cheshire and Tatton have signed a petition calling for teachers to get priority access to the Covid vaccine.

The petition is urging the Government to put teachers – along with school staff and people working in childcare – on the priority list adopted by Government.

Charlotte Appleyard, who started the petition, says that such workers ‘cannot distance or use PPE’ and that the vaccine should keep them safe while also providing protection for children and their families – and cut the need for school shutdowns.

It comes as schools closed their doors again on Monday for another national lockdown, with home learning expected to last until at least February half-term.

Teaching unions had led calls for schools to remain closed over the weekend due to safety fears involving the new strain of coronavirus.

Thousands could benefit from such a move in Cheshire, according to School Workforce Census from 2019.

It shows there were 2,738 teachers in Cheshire East aged below 50 and 2,600 in Cheshire West – with all of those currently missing the youngest age bracket (50 to 54) on the priority list.

As of 8.45pm on Wednesday, January 6, 579 residents had signed the petition in the Congleton constituency, 537 in Eddisbury, 433 in Weaver Vale and 360 in Tatton.

Nationally, 326,716 people had signed the petition, and Parliament is due to debate the petition on January 11.

Cllr Andrew Cooper, Labour Cheshire West councillor for Northwich Leftwich, told the Guardian this week that he would support such a move.

He said: "We know every day spent out of school has an impact on the life chances of all children, especially those living in poverty.

“The certification of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine offers hope that we can get out of this quickly.

“I hope that teachers and school staff will be prioritised in the vaccine roll out so that we can get children back to school as soon as possible.”

During the lockdown debate on Wednesday, MPs from across the political divide called for teachers to get priority on vaccinations, including former Conservative Education Secretary Damian Hinds.

He said: “Once the highest-risk groups have been vaccinated can I encourage [Prime Minister Boris Johnson], with the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), in looking again at prioritising key workers – including teachers – because of the special role that teachers play in our society and because we prioritise education?”

In response, Mr Johnson said: “I fully understand the point that my right honourable friend makes and I’m sure that it will be borne in mind by the JCVI as they continue to make their judgements.”

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