UNIONS are calling for teachers and the police to be prioritised for Covid vaccines in Wales.

Unison, representing thousands of police and community support officers and police staff, has spoken of its disappointment that key public service workers are not to be given priority status in the next round of vaccinations.

They say frontline key workers who have risked their own welfare during the pandemic to protect others and keep our communities running should be vaccinated without delay.

It says there is widespread public support for prioritising vaccinations for police staff and school support staff to aid the safe and sustained opening up of society.

NAHT Cymru also calling on the Welsh Government to prioritise teachers in the next phase of Covid vaccination.

Phil Williams, chair, Unison police committee in Wales, said: “The nature of our jobs means police staff and our police officer colleagues are at greater risk of Covid exposure. We regularly have close physical contact with members of the public, providing life-saving first aid or detaining or restraining individuals. Social distancing is impossible in these situations.

“Officers in custody suites may be required to work in close proximity with Covid-positive detainees and there have been instances where the masks of police staff have been ripped off by agitated members of the public. We have been coughed at and spat on.

“Every day, police staff respond to emergencies alongside paramedics and ambulance workers who have rightly received the vaccine. We need the same protection.”

Simon Dunn, Unison Cymru Wales lead officer for police, added: “Our members do not expect or want to be prioritised over health workers or vulnerable members of the public, but at this stage of the vaccination programme, surely there should be protection for those staff undertaking critical public safety roles, who cannot ensure Covid safety measures are followed.

“Public service workers have been there for us throughout the pandemic. They deserve our support and priority vaccinations.”

Laura Doel, director of NAHT Cymru, said sick teachers “will mean further disruption to pupils’ education”.

She said: “Our education workforce is being relied upon to lead Wales out of the pandemic. They are being required to work with large groups of people who carry at least as much potential for infection as anyone else. Those groups often occupy confined and unventilated spaces for long periods of time with only rudimentary PPE.

“The fact that it may have added some complexity to roll-out according to the JCVI is not a good enough reason not to prioritise the needs of committed professionals. A sick teacher is a teacher away from class which will mean further disruption to pupil’s education and could well mean that they may need to be educated from home again.

“We call upon the Welsh Government to take a different view, to live up to its promise to the people of Wales to make education a priority and do all it can to support a safe and sustainable return by choosing to prioritise school staff for vaccinations.

"We do not believe that teachers should be vaccinated at the detriment of the clinically vulnerable, but as frontline staff they should be protected now that those in the greatest danger have already been vaccinated."