BASINGSTOKE MP Maria Miller is calling for teachers and school staff to be made a “priority” for the Covid-19 vaccine, after it has been administered to the over 70s.

Mrs Miller tweeted to urge the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which has set the priority list, to “find a way to better recognise the health impact of ongoing lockdown on young people in our country” by making “teachers and school staff a priority for coronavirus vaccine after over 70s”.

She linked to a tweet from Harlow MP Robert Halfon who posted a letter in The Times warning of the ‘mental health epidemic’ with continued school closures.

It warns of pupils suffering from anxiety, depression and self-harm, with parents showing signs of psychological stress and even breakdown.

Yesterday, Matt Hancock said discussions are underway over which groups will be prioritised for the vaccine once the elderly and clinically extremely vulnerable have received their first dose.

The health secretary told Sky News that teachers have a “good shout” to be “very high” on the next priority list for the vaccine.

He said: “There is a perfectly reasonable debate to be had about who should go in what order next, where teachers have got a good shout to be very high on that list.”

Schools are shut to all children other than those of key workers or vulnerable pupils. It is possible that they will remain closed until after Easter.

So far, more than five million people have had their first dose of the vaccine.

The government aims to have administered 15 million doses by the middle of February.

Are you home-schooling? Has your mental health, or that of your children, suffered as a result? Get in touch by emailing Emily.roberts@newsquest.co.uk.