NHS urges ineligible patients not to book Covid jabs after several Wigan teachers turned away from vaccine site

Several teachers from the borough had booked appointments at the Etihad campus vaccine site in recent days, only to be turned away on arrival after being told they weren’t yet eligible for a vaccine.

The NHS has today reiterated that teachers aren’t currently able to book a vaccine appointment, and warned that anyone turning up who does not meet the vaccine criteria will be turned away - even if they have been accepted for an appointment.

A source close to one school, who asked to remain anonymous, said several teachers from one school in the borough were “herded out” after arriving at the Etihad centre over the weekend for their jabs.

They told the Wigan Post: “I’ve had sight of an email [from the school] which says that staff are entitled to get a vaccine, but when you book them online, you need to claim you’re a social care worker.

“Why are staff being asked to fraudulently say they’re in a different profession to get a vaccination?”

They added: “If teachers are eligible to get it, the unions would be singing about it, the parents would be talking about it, it would be everywhere.

“So my concern is that staff being directed to fraudulently obtain a vaccination.

“How disgusting is that? If all these teachers will follow instructions and just go and book them, they’re taking up spaces that could belong to actual social workers or frontline NHS staff, or people classed as vulnerable.

“A lot of staff are fearful of not following the instructions, and they choose to go and get the booking done, because of the fear of repercussions from the school.”

Staff at another Wigan school were also told in an email: “It has come to our attention that school staff are able to book a Covid vaccine at the Etihad stadium by following this link:”.

After a member of staff was turned away from the vaccine hub over the weekend, they warned colleagues not to have a wasted journey.

“I booked an appointment last night for this morning. When I attended, I was rejected with lots of others because of the school being a ‘mainstream’ school. Hope this helps prevent unnecessary journeys.”

A similar situation had unfolded last week when teachers at a school in North Manchester.

Leaders at the King David High School, Crumpsall, circulated an email among teachers, in which they recommended that they book vaccine appointments by using slots reserved for health and social workers.

Current Government guidelines state that only people who are classed as extremely clinically vulnerable, the over 65s, and frontline health or social workers are eligible for vaccination.

A spokesperson for the NHS in the North West said: “The NHS is continuing to vaccinate people in priority cohorts set by the JCVI, and local authorities are identifying eligible social care staff.

“People who booked in error should have their appointment cancelled, with ID checks happening in local areas to ensure those who are currently eligible are vaccinated.”

More information on how eligible citizens can book their vaccine appointments can be found at the website www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19.

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