Education Secretary Gavin Williamson says teachers have not been prioritised for the Covid vaccine because they are not among the most vulnerable.
However, he hinted that further waves of the vaccine roll-out could see teachers moved up the list.
Mr Williamson told Sky News: “As you’re well aware, we’ve prioritised in that first wave of vaccines those people who are most vulnerable, who are most likely to be in a position of being hospitalised as a result of catching Covid-19.
“I think we all recognise where the first vaccines need to go, to those who are most likely to lose their lives as a result of catching Covid.”
Mr Williamson said there will be teachers who are prioritised for the vaccine because they are clinically extremely vulnerable.
He added: “When we look at future waves of a rollout of a vaccine… as you can imagine, as Education Secretary I’ll be wanting to see teachers and all those support staff being up there on that list getting that vaccine.”
Asked directly whether teachers should be prioritised like healthcare workers, the Education Secretary added: “In future waves, obviously, this is a decision that will be made across government, it’d be great to see more teachers right up there getting the vaccine, but it’s got to be made on clinical judgment as to how best we deal with and beat this virus.”
