Should schools close?

Liz46
This is precisely why NHS staff and teachers/school staff should be getting the vaccine first, not old people.

Kate1949

What about the staff? Our daughter works in a secondary school and she says the virus is 'running riot' in the school. She and her husband both tested positive which was frightening to say the least (they are OK thankfully). One of her colleagues, a young woman, is in hospital, quite poorly with Covid.

We are as sure as we can be that my 11 year old grandson and his friend brought the virus home from school infecting both sets of parents. My daughter has asthma and was very poorly, then my 13 year old granddaughter caught it and was also badly affected.

My step grandchildren are in quarantine for two weeks because both of their teachers have the virus.

I work as a supply teacher, although I only work in one particular school and have been attached to one particular ‘bubble’ since September. Today I have been sent home and told to isolate for 14days as a pupil has tested positive for the virus. Too right schools should close - I’m in a tier 3 area and this is the fourth bubble to go in a week at our school. I’ve never felt ‘safe’ going into school, but if I don’t work, I don’t get paid!

The vaccine will do nothing to stop that. The only solution is to stop pupils in the most infected areas from contact.

No, it won't.

But they may only develop mild symptoms that is why teachers, and vulnerable pupils, should have the vaccine as a matter of urgency.

but show very clearly that the steepest rise is amongst secondary pupils.

So anyone with a jot of sense should realise that teachers should be in the first swathe of those receiving the vaccine.

I don't understand what is so difficult to understand about that!

I think that some of us (me included) imagine that classrooms are functioning as normal. Because I'm now retired, I'm dependent on what teachers tell me. Twice in the last week I've been really shocked how naive I've been.
First was a secondary school teacher saying that a third of her school's teachers are off either isolating or shielding. Consequently there's an unusually high number of supply teachers in who don't know the system or people to talk to (assuming those staff are in school), and so behaviour in school is sinking. Most teachers in school are losing planning frees to cover, and TAs are being asked to look after classes. Hence staff are very run-down which is also very bad for behaviour.
The other teacher told me 2 teachers had died in their school. (This has a devastating effect on pupils, who have probably have only ever known death in the context of old people.)
Two other facts. It's only in last couple of weeks that govt has accepted the need for adults and pupils to wear masks in the classroom. And England's Y11s and Y13s have been told their exams will be 3 weeks later to accommodate the disruption. With staff out and bubbles sent home, I would think most lost 3 weeks classroom time in one half term.

Both DDs teach. One school is now closed, for a while 4 years were running but another outbreak has made it impossible to keep open, one reason is that they are running out of support staff. This means that one GC from a year group with Covid in it is at home but the sibling will be off to a different school as usual. How can they stop it spreading with so much mixing going on. Some teachers are worrying a lot and some have admitted being scared now, it is not a good atmosphere once the virus is in the school. Obviously it is better for them all to be in school as the teachers and parents find the online teaching stressful and not everyone has the facilities or the capability to do it properly. Some children are now way behind with others way ahead it will take a lot of sorting out.

OK, nobody seems to understand my point of view so I will state it more clearly. A post was made which said that the very elderly will be given the vaccine because they don't know what the long term side effects will be. That is not why the vaccine is being given to older people first, it is being given to them first because they are at more risk of death.

Offhand comments like the original post are how rumours and misapprehensions start, and they should not be allowed to go unquestioned.

I work in childcare and the effects of my three year olds was evident from day one. The girls seem shyer and more withdrawn than the boys and the boys are totally wild having been in lockdown they have monents when the anger comes out these don’t even seem to be the same kids that left in March. It’s so sad stay open please.

This is the latest graph breaking down infections by age group. Unfortunately, it's already two weeks out of date, but show very clearly that the steepest rise is amongst secondary pupils.

The vaccine will do nothing to stop that. The only solution is to stop pupils in the most infected areas from contact.

There is almost nowhere in the country now with a daily infection rate below 20 in 100,000, which is 1 in 5,000. That means in a secondary school of 2,000, there could be two new cases every week. Some areas are, of course, much higher.

Alegrias2

I am not questioning at all the plans for rollout of the vaccine. However the statement that old people are being given the vaccine first because the side effects are not known concerns me a lot. I don't believe it is true. If is is true, then someone needs to get on to the press because this goes against all the rules for using vaccines. You, Ellianne, have already said it has made you glad you are further down the list, so it is causing concern already. Anyone who posts something like that deserves to be asked to defend it.

I don't think anyone on here needs to defend the plan for the vaccine - they're not responsible for its implementation.

I assume the very elderly will be the first to be offered the vaccine because they are most at risk.

Alegrias2

I am not questioning at all the plans for rollout of the vaccine. However the statement that old people are being given the vaccine first because the side effects are not known concerns me a lot. I don't believe it is true. If is is true, then someone needs to get on to the press because this goes against all the rules for using vaccines. You, Ellianne, have already said it has made you glad you are further down the list, so it is causing concern already. Anyone who posts something like that deserves to be asked to defend it.

The vaccine is being given to older people first because they are the ones who are at most risk from dying.

It has not yet been established whether this vaccine stops people being infected or stops them from being infectious. Therefore, it will have negligible effect on those who are at low risk of the worst symptoms. They still need to take all the normal precautions.

It makes clinical sense to try to protect. those most at risk of hospitalisation and dying. We don't even how the elderly and/or people with compromised immune systems will respond anyway. From what is known at the moment, the Pfizer vaccine will prevent infected people from suffering further organ damage, not stop them from being infected in the first place.

I am at number 5 in the list of priorities and have seen nothing which would deter me from having the vaccine if/when it becomes available.

I am not questioning at all the plans for rollout of the vaccine. However the statement that old people are being given the vaccine first because the side effects are not known concerns me a lot. I don't believe it is true. If is is true, then someone needs to get on to the press because this goes against all the rules for using vaccines. You, Ellianne, have already said it has made you glad you are further down the list, so it is causing concern already. Anyone who posts something like that deserves to be asked to defend it.

I believe maddyone does know what she is talking about and has given us an explanation of the plan coming from the Department of Health. She does not need to be questioned further. Whether we agree or disagree with the reasons behind who, when, how etc we should be very glad and just get on with the job.

I have 2 granddaughters in primary school and there are loads of children off isolating and a couple of confirmed cases - one is only 3 and her sister is 6. My adult daughter is a secondary school teacher and she herself has been told to start isolation today as 2 other teachers are confirmed positive, after a pupil was positive. It's a worry as my daughter is now 6 months pregnant too. She'll be doing online teaching for the next fortnight.

I think Maddyone is right in that people in care homes will be the first to get the vaccine, then over 80's, over 75's and so on as they are the most vulnerable and are likely to become very ill with Covid.

Well that's my Doctors stuffed if they have to do all that injecting. What do I base that sarky comment on? Talking to friends and family over the past 7 months.
One neighbour had to be taken to A&E by her daughter because 'our' Doctor just kept proscibing over the phone ?

Thanks jenpax but I still don't believe it

Giving it to the old people first as long term side effects are unknown? How do you think that would go down with the population at large. "We're going to use granny as a guinea pig because her life doesn't matter?" That's hardly going to inspire confidence in the vaccine, is it?

Nope, not convinced. Maybe maddyone can convince me.

jenpax

Alegrias2 maddy works for a GP surgery so her information will be up to the minute

I don't think maddyone works in a surgery, but her DD and SIL are both GPs.

Alegrias2 maddy works for a GP surgery so her information will be up to the minute

I can tell you a bit about the vaccine. It is to be given to the most elderly first as long term side effects are unknown.

Is it, aye?

So they are using all of the old people as guinea pigs? And the care home workers and health care professionals that are also in priority groups 1 and 2? Are they not worried about them all suffering from the long term side effects as well?

I don't know your source of information Maddyone but I'd like to know what it is as this seems very unlikely.

Or indeed Ellianne spend time with their own families!

That's interesting maddyone coming from the horse's mouth. Thank you.
12 hours a day? Crikey, I hope elderly people coming to the practice are happy to take the slots in the four hours after darkness on winter roads. Or early in the morning.
Does this mean Christmas Day and Boxing Day too?
The poor gps are going to be so busy doing this, how can they possibly have time for other patients with other health concerns?
So some of the previous concerns raised by posters on the vaccine thread were well founded.
Perhaps you could post the above info on that thread to enlighten everyone.
(I'm rather glad I'm a long way down the list now.)

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.