More needs to be done to protect our vital frontline workers

We are incredibly concerned and saddened by the data from the ONS today on Covid-19 death rates in the working age population

The data shows us is that death rates amongst the working age population are significantly higher in professions where working in close proximity with others is frequent – these are our workers in prisons, in education and early years settings, our factory workers and our carers.

Throughout the pandemic there have been many groups of workers who have been on the frontline helping to keep our country running and safe. They have been providing vital services in the pandemic and the pressures on these exceptional people are increasing as the lockdown measures continue. All work is valuable work, and this data is a stark reminder that not enough is being done to protect those in professions where you can’t work from home and the risk of catching Covid-19 from frequent proximity to others is much greater.

We believe that workers in these professions should be considered much sooner in the next stage of the vaccine rollout, reflecting this increased risk. This would give staff increased confidence, allow them to protect vulnerable family members and contacts, and most significantly would dramatically reduce the risk to these groups of essential workers who are on the front line keeping us all safe.