Call to prioritize COVID-19 vaccinations for all education workers

BY PAUL JUNOR

The Ontario government has finally listened to the voice and concerns of education unions, school boards and other concerned individuals that frontline workers be deemed essential so that they can receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

The release of the Provincial Emergency and Stay-at-Home Order on Wednesday, April 7^th, 2021 by the government, which took effect on Thursday, April 8^th, 2021, seeks to address the rising COVID-19 cases through increased public health protocols.

The news release from the Ontario government states, “In addition, beginning next week, education workers who provide direct support to students with special education needs across the province, and all education workers in select hot spots areas will be eligible to register for vaccination. Vaccinations will commence during the April break starting with priority neighbourhoods in Toronto and Peel, then rolling out in priority neighbourhoods in other hot spot regions, including York, Ottawa, Hamilton, Halton and Durham. This will be followed by a rollout across the province as supply allows.”

There have been thirteen hotspots which have been identified by the province that will receive the vaccine for residents fifty years and older. There are only 920,000 doses that will be dispensed based on the recommendations of public health units. The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) sent an email to its staff on Friday, April 9^th, 2021 from Karen Falconer, Interim Director of Education which states, “Our continued advocacy  to prioritize COVID-19 vaccinations for all education workers in our Board  has made a difference and we are grateful to see that our staff are recognized as the essential workers they are.”

This is truly good news for concerned teachers. Subsequently, there was another email sent to the TDSB staff on Friday evening, April 9^th, 2021 providing information to clarify the next step. The email indicates that vaccinations will be available only for education workers who work with students with special needs.

Only staff such as: principals, custodians and office staff who have direct contact with these who meet one of following criteria are eligible;

• require supports with daily living
• are unable to wear mask
• have complex medical needs
• cannot be accommodated in remote learning

On Monday, April 12^th, 2021 in an email to staff of the TDSB, there was additional information provided regarding Ontario’s prioritized vaccinations for education workers. It indicates that teachers who work with special needs students as well as those who live or “ work” in “hot spots” are able to book appointments if there are specific requirements met. There is no guarantee that they will be vaccinated, as it is conditional on the supply of vaccines. There have been over 2,300 personalized letters sent to TDSB staffs that confirm their eligibility as of Friday, April 9^th, 2021. In addition, there have been over 15,000 TDSB staff who have been identified as working in “hot spot” Toronto neighbourhoods.

Olivia Chow tweeted on April 9^th, 2021, “With 1200+ COVID cases a day in TO, there are still plans to vaccinate child care workers even though centres remain open. These dedicated Early Childhood Educators deserve better protection.”

On Wednesday, April 14^th, 2021 in a letter to Dr de Villa, heads of unions in Toronto called for special education closure until workers are vaccinated. The letter requested that Toronto’s top medical doctor “Issue an order so that these students and their educators may remain at home until those educators have had their first vaccination, following with the fourteen day period for the vaccine to take effect has passed.”

MP Bhutila Karpoche, MPP for Parkdale and High Part in a letter to constituents wrote, “There have also been several developments on the vaccine rollout in the past week, mainly the supply challenges which are facing many vaccination clinics across Toronto.”