Bank staff should be given priority for COVID-19 vaccine, workers’ union says

The General Workers Union has announced that they are pushing for staff at banks to be considered as front liners, meaning they would get given priority in the vaccine rollout.

They say that because bank workers meet with customers on a continuous basis, they are particularly exposed to COVID, which places both themselves and their potentially vulnerable family members in danger.

 They have conceded that everyone is naturally anxious to get vaccinated against COVID as soon as is possible, as a union, they are duty-bound to pursue what is best for their members.

This comes after the dispute between the Malta Union of Teachers and the Government last week was resolved with the Government committing to giving school staff priority in its vaccination program.

The Malta Health Students’ Association has also called for priority, decrying suggestions that medical students would be neglected in the rolling out of vaccines to medical front liners.

The Government’s current policy, as listed on health.gov.mt, defines four levels of priority in the rollout of the vaccine.

The first group includes people aged 85 and over, healthcare workers, long-term care facility workers, and residents of long-term care facilities.

The second group includes “all other frontliners”, and persons 80-85 years old.

The third includes persons at risk due to health conditions, people aged 70-80 years, and staff at schools and child-care centers.

The final group includes people over 55 years of age and the rest of the population.