Ms Haythorpe said teachers and school staff welcomed the move given concerns about more unresolved pressures regarding safety and response to major outbreaks.
She said the union, which has not yet been consulted, wanted clarity on infrastructure such as ventilation and space for social distance, how staff shortages will be managed and a test strategy.
“Many children will be unvaccinated when the term begins, and for the first two months, it will be first dose protection at best,” Haythorpe said.
Australian Education Union Federal President Correna Haythorpe said distance learning may be the only option in major outbreaks.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
“Schools have the potential to be superspreader environments. If teachers feel they need to do a quick antigen test every day, then they should be able to. “
Childcare centers have already experienced the impact of soaring cases: 439 were closed across the country on Friday, including 48 in Victoria and 322 in New South Wales.
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Children are only eligible for the Pfizer vaccine and will receive one third of the adult dose. They will be administered by GPs, pharmacies and 40 state-run clinics in Victoria, where over 500,000 children aged five to 11 are eligible.
Melbourne mother Jade Cruse spent most of this week finding a deal for her 11-and-five-year-old daughter Isla and son Ari.
“I called all the GPs in our area who said they could not book us in because they were not sure of the supply. We are going on holiday on the Mornington Peninsula next week, so I also called all the GPs. and pharmacies there, ”Cruse said.
“Eventually I got one at a state clinic next week, but I’ve spent hours and hours being relentless. Most of the appointments I saw were in February.”
Mrs Cruse said she was stressed that her children were returning to school, especially as Ari, who is starting to prepare, has asthma.
Mrs Cruse said she would have preferred her children to be fully vaccinated before the term starts.Credit:Simon Schluter
“If cases get violent at their school, I will not send them back until they are fully vaccinated,” said the 42-year-old from Montmorency in the northeastern part of Melbourne.
Melbourne co-mother Ashleigh Bennett had booked an appointment for her seven-year-old daughter 30 minutes from their home at a medical clinic, who called her on Wednesday to cancel.
“Our local doctor said they were booked out until mid-March. We found a reservation at a state clinic the day before school goes back,” she said.
“I have limited confidence that many children will actually have the chance to be vaccinated before school goes back based on our experience,” she said.
The president of the Victorian Principals Association, Andrew Dalgleish, said distance learning should be considered to ensure continuity for students.
“But it is not possible for teachers to give face-to-face and distance learning at the same time. It really has to be one or the other at some point,” he said.
Dalgleish suggested that the solution for children to be isolated may be a series of digital learning modules that they can access at home.
“Although it would be much easier for older elementary school children than the younger children.”
40 state-run clinics will offer pediatric vaccinations from Monday in Victoria.Credit:Jason Syd
Victoria registered 51,356 new infections on Saturday.
A spokesman for the state government supported the National Cabinet’s discussions on a nationwide framework.
“Our school staff is almost completely vaccinated and we allow all children aged 5 to 11 to receive at least one vaccine dose before term 1 and their second before the end of the term,” he said.
Anita Munoz, Victorian chair of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, said many practices had over 2,000 children on their books, who are currently fighting for 100 doses a week.
Anita Munoz, Victorian President of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.
“Parents who face a number of barriers may decide that it is too difficult for them not to be bothered by the process. That’s a really big problem, ”she said.
Victoria’s COVID-19 commander Jeroen Weimar revealed on Friday that schools will be used as vaccination sites when the semester begins, but Dr. Munoz, meanwhile, said GPs and parents were hampered by an unreliable supply chain.
“We’ve had so much experience with this pandemic that it’s disappointing that we’re still seeing the same errors,” said the GP, who works at a clinic in Melbourne’s CBD.
“After being burned several times last year, the majority of practitioners are not ready to accept reservations until they know they have stock in the refrigerator.”
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A spokesman for the federal health ministry said pediatric doses were assigned on a per capita basis based on experience with 12- to 15-year vaccinations and feedback from states and territories.
“The government has ensured adequate supply of the 5 to 11 year old doses to offer all children a first dose by the end of January,” he said.
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