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NHS Apology After Isle Of Wight School Staff Mistakenly Offered Coronavirus Vaccine

School staff on the Isle of Wight say they have been left "disappointed" and "deflated" after an NHS error meant they were incorrectly offered coronavirus vaccine slots.

The Isle of Wight NHS Trust has apologised, saying "booking information was shared more widely than was appropriate".

Staff in special schools and nurseries on the Island were eager to sign up for a jab, according to the National Education Union, only for appointments to be cancelled. 

Islander Peter Shreeve, Assistant District Secretary of the NEU, said: 

“To have hopes soar and to be so near to receiving a jab, only for hopes to be dashed is disheartening. This is what appears to have happened last weekend on the Island to some staff. Staff were eager to sign up, but then cancelled as they realised information had been circulated incorrectly. All were sympathetic to any error and no-one apportioned blame, which can be summed up with the comment: “Everyone is under so much stress and pressure…”

 “Reactions varied, but all were “disappointed” and “deflated”. One said, they didn’t “want to take a slot if there are front line NHS staff or the more vulnerable still waiting!”

Staff in special schools across the UK are not currently on the priority list to have a coronavirus vaccine.

Islanders aged over 70 years of age, those who are clinically vulnerable and NHS and Social Care staff are among those who are eligible for a coronavirus jab.

Reports of some people being able to get COVID-19 vaccine appointments, despite not being on the list, are not unique to the Island. 

Across the country, links to the Swiftqueue system - which is used to book jabs - have been shared widely.

This has allowed people to “jump the queue”.

The Isle of Wight NHS Trust has said sorry for causing confusion.

A spokesperson said:

“Our hospital vaccination hub is working round the clock to vaccinate NHS and social care staff.

“Unfortunately our booking information was shared more widely than was appropriate and a number of people who are not on the Government’s priority list attempted to book slots for their first dose of the vaccine.

“We took immediate steps to rectify the situation and would like to apologise for the confusion caused.”

Ministers are growing under increasing pressure to vaccinate all teachers, with a petition due to be debated in parliament.

Last week, Isle of Wight Radio reported how some Island employees "don't feel safe".

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