The National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) has proposed that teachers be added to the list to replace those who do not show up for their jabs.

While unsure of the exact number of teachers who have been vaccinated so far, NUTP secretary-general Harry Tan said he was informed that some educators have got their appointments while others in rural areas have already been vaccinated.

“We understand the government’s constraints as our fellow unionists from the medical sector, like the nurses, tell us that they are really overworked.

“What we propose is that the government sets up a waiting list. I am sure the teachers will not mind being on that waiting list to fill the quota of those who do not appear (for their vaccine appointments),” he told FMT.

Sabah government teachers union (KGKS) president Hussin Basir said the vaccination rate of teachers in the state remained low.

He acknowledged that the distribution of vaccines was up to the discretion of the state health department, but said the union hoped teachers and education staff could be given priority because they were also frontliners.

“Giving vaccines to teachers would be an important step toward getting schools ready to reopen while curbing the spread of Covid-19,” he told FMT.

Tan said the reopening of schools would ensure no student was left behind in education. He said teachers would be better able to provide enhanced lessons in face-to-face classes.

This, he said, would also help jumpstart certain economic sectors, as education involved various industries such as printing, logistics, food and apparel.

Hussin said online lessons had led to various challenges for teachers, students and even parents, adding that teachers could not fully do their jobs virtually.

“At the same time, students’ involvement is also a major obstacle as many lack internet access or good internet connection, or who have to use their parents’ devices.

“Hence, face-to-face lessons are the best teaching method, especially for basic subjects like reading, writing and mathematics, because they involve cognitive, affective and psychomotor evaluation,” he said.

Sarawak Teachers’ Union president Adam Prakash Abdullah was glad that teachers were being prioritised for vaccines and hoped special arrangements could be made for those in the interior to boost the overall immunisation rate.

He told FMT he was hoping for all teachers to be vaccinated before the new school session next year.

“We would like to see our teachers protected as they are in close contact with the students every day and the virus can spread in schools very quickly. We have seen several cases involving schools in the past month,” he said.

However, he said it would be better for schools in red zones in Sarawak to remain closed even after teachers got vaccinated.

Expressing confidence in the effectiveness of online lessons, he said: “The recent SPM results have shown that despite the odds of going through home schooling, excellent results can still be achieved, provided lessons are planned well and facilities are available.”

Recently, former deputy education minister Teo Nie Ching asked Putrajaya why teachers were being left behind, claiming that nearly 84% of them have yet to be vaccinated.

Teachers are included in Phase 2 of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme, alongside senior citizens, the disabled and people with comorbidities.

Vaccinate cleaners, garbage collectors and guards, say doctors

Meanwhile, the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) and former deputy health minister Dr Lee Boon Chye have backed an MP’s call for the government to prioritise vaccinations for cleaners, garbage collectors and guards.

MMA president Dr Subramaniam Muniandy said these groups should be included in Phase 2 of the immunisation programme.

He said cleaners and garbage collectors were at risk of infection if they failed to observe proper hand hygiene.

“Not removing gloves the proper way can also put them at risk of coming into contact with the virus,” he said.

He said security guards could also be exposed from being in a guardhouse with an infected colleague, or while carrying out their duties, particularly in enclosed and confined spaces.

These infections could then spread to the commercial, industrial and housing areas they work in.

Lee said cleaners, garbage collectors and security guards were groups at high risk of being infected.

“Hence, they should be given priority alongside other groups such as teachers, workers in the food and beverage industry, front desk personnel in government departments, customer service staff in private sectors and welfare officers,” he said.

Recently, DAP’s Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng had asked the government whether it had plans to vaccinate cleaners and security guards in Phase 4 of the immunisation programme.

Calling them “neglected frontliners”, Lim said cleaners, garbage collectors and security guards were highly exposed to infection.

“The earlier they are inoculated, the less risk they pose in spreading the virus in the neighbourhoods they work,” he said.

On Wednesday, the minister coordinating the vaccine programme, Khairy Jamaluddin, said the government would start vaccinating workers in critical economic sectors in Phase 4 of the programme, beginning from June 16.

He said they comprised workers in the manufacturing, export, logistics, transportation, energy, utilities and related sectors.