NSW Teachers Federation regional organiser Jack Galvin Waight said the government decision to postpone Hunter appointments to redirect Pfizer vaccines to year 12 students in Sydney was a "disgrace that will put the health and safety of our students, teachers and school communities at risk". "Hunter teachers are furious at the move to cancel vaccinations, with many teachers in vulnerable categories or caring for vulnerable loved ones," he said. "Year 12 is important, but not as important as the health and safety of staff and students. The Department of Education, which is an arm of the state government, has a duty of care to all staff and students."

Elected federation committee member Adam Bevan, who is also a maths teacher at Callaghan College Waratah, had his first dose of Pfizer last week and received a text message on Saturday telling him his second appointment would be cancelled and he would be sent a priority code to rebook at a later date. He said he understands this was likely a mistake and the change mostly affects people who haven't yet had their first dose, but has been unable to get any written confirmation that his second appointment will go ahead. It still appears in the online booking system.

"Many other teachers are in the position of having both doses cancelled and they're not going to know when the next one is going to happen," he said. "It's been very stressful. We're in front of hundreds of students each day. We've waited months for this vaccine. We know [from Brisbane schools] how quickly it can kick off, it can just change so quickly."

A primary teacher who declined to be named said they were on immune suppressants and have had their first appointment due this week rescheduled. "I'm frustrated," they said. "I tried to do the right thing and follow instructions as you do, but then again you get thrown down the list." They tried not to think about their increased risk if there was a local outbreak. "I've got a young family too, that is my priority, so me being healthy is pretty important to them."

Mr Bevan said teachers were essential workers and should have been prioritised, behind the elderly and frontline workers. "The potential for it to really kick off is there," he said. "They've got measures in place like sanitiser and wiping door handles, but would that stop a super spreader event? We're at full capacity with the full number of students. Someone in Belmont is fined for having a party [with more than five people] and we're in classrooms with 30 kids every day, six times a day."

Mr Galvin Waight said around 47 per cent of the teaching profession were aged under 40 and 72 per cent were under 50.

"The vaccine has just not been available for the majority of the profession. Cancelling vaccinations now is dangerous," he said.

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