Unicef has called for teachers to be prioritised to receive a Covid vaccine after frontline health personnel and high-risk populations, in order to keep schools open.

Giving teachers priority in receiving a vaccine would protect them from the virus and allow them to teach in person, Unicef executive director Henrietta Fore said.

“Unicef is calling for teachers to be prioritised to receive the Covid-19 vaccine, once frontline health personnel and high-risk populations are vaccinated,” she said.

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“This will help protect teachers from the virus, allow them to teach in person, and ultimately keep schools open.

Coronavirus: Vaccinate teachers to keep schools open, says Unicef

“While decisions about vaccine allocation ultimately rest with governments, the consequences of extended, missed or impaired education are steep, especially for the most marginalised.

“The longer children remain out of school, the less likely they are to return, and the more difficult it is for their parents to resume work.”

In the statement, Ms Fore explained that as of 1 December, schools were closed for nearly one in five schoolchildren globally.

She added: “The Covid-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on children’s education around the globe. Vaccinating teachers is a critical step towards putting it back on track.”