If children are to return to school, teachers must receive a Covid-19 vaccine. But they are not a priority group, and nor are many key workers. Here’s how they could be prioritised. I will use my own situation as an example. I am a fairly fit 71-year-old who lives in a very rural area with a low infection rate. I shop as quickly as I can if I can’t get a delivery slot or run out of something. Apart from that, I do not go out other than for exercise. Although far from complacent, I am therefore not at high risk for catching the virus. It doesn’t bother me much to be tucked away for a little longer. I would be happy for a teacher or an essential worker who has to associate with others to have my vaccine as long as I am placed in a different priority group. We had “clap for carers”. Let’s now have “trade with teachers”.
Patrick Cosgrove
Bucknell, Shropshire
• We’re sure that our hard-pressed government would like us to take greater moral responsibility with respect to the pandemic. One easy action would be to provide those in priority age groups (ourselves included) with the option to donate our early vaccination dates to others if we feel that society would benefit more. We personally would donate to teachers, thus helping children to return to school. We appreciate that many would not feel able to take up the option, for good reason, but just having the choice would be helpful. We would, of course, expect to be vaccinated at a later date.
Angharad Thomas and Gordon Wilson
Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
• I am 69 and expect to receive a Covid-19 vaccination this month. I want the government to know that if I have to wait another few weeks to get my vaccination, that is completely OK if it means someone who faces greater risk could receive it – wherever in Europe or elsewhere in the world. While I realise one person’s gesture can have no practical impact, I would think, and hope, that there are hundreds of thousands of citizens who would regard that approach as being not just sensible, but also a moral imperative, which could make a difference to so many lives.
Peter Crawhurst
Brighton
