As you know, we recently wrote to the Huron Perth Health Unit, requesting that education workers be prioritized in the vaccination rollout.
Today, we received a response. We have attached it to this email.
Noted multiple times in the letter is that HPPH is following the directions of the province. This direction is clearly not including education workers as individuals working in “congregate settings”, and instead is treating educators like all others who cannot work from home.
We know this does not reflect the realities of the work that educators do.
Across the province, individual health units have made the decision to prioritize educators. The Niagara region, Wellington Dufferin Guelph, and Lambton health units have stepped up to keep schools safe by prioritizing education workers in their vaccination plans.
We know that you are tired. We know that this year has taken a toll.
But we need to continue to push for safe schools and safe working environments. We are asking members to write letters to HPPH, stressing the unique dangers of the school environment, and asking that, like Niagara, Wellington and Lambton, they take bold action to protect our school system and those who work within it.
Miriam Klassen, Medical Officer of Health
Huron Perth Public Health
653 West Gore St.
Stratford, ON,
N5A 1L4
Thank you for your work and your advocacy.