Local teachers union president questions vaccination timeline for teachers

As the third wave of the pandemic continues across BC, the local teachers union is questioning when teachers will receive vaccines.

President of the Nicola Valley Teachers’ Union Peter Vogt sent a letter to Andrew Hughes, the Executive Director of Interior Health asking that very question.

“We are in Stage 3. Parents, students, and concerned community members need to know, why is the Interior Health Authority refusing to prioritize teachers as front-line workers? When will teachers receive vaccinations that make our schools and communities safer?” Questioned Vogt.

The letter from Vogt to the Health Authority follows a similar letter from the Princeton Teacher Union the week prior.

“Unfortunately, your response to him was inconsistent with the messaging the public has been provided by the PHO. This is not a matter of “the province determining eligibility priority” as the province already established teachers as a front-line group,” stated Vogt.

School District 58, which includes both Merritt and Princeton has not seen a COVID-19 outbreak in a school setting since an exposure at Merritt Secondary on April 8 and 9.

*Q101 has not been made aware of a response from the Health Authority at the time of posting