KITCHENER -- There are more calls for teachers and other education workers to get their COVID-19 vaccines as soon as possible.

Waterloo Region District School Board trustees voted at a Monday night meeting to make a case to public health and regional council for special education workers.

While these workers are included in phase two of the vaccine rollout, it’s still unclear when they’ll get their shot.

“I would really like to see our special education staff prioritized immediately,” said trustee Jayne Herring. “Last week, the TCDSB wrote a letter requesting that education workers be prioritized for the vaccine during the April break and I would like to ask our trustees to support that recommendation as well.

"I don't think anybody would be suggesting that we jump the queue in front of people who are older or are essential workers, nurses, and doctors, we are just asking them to move the timeframe up."

Pending the availability of the vaccine supply, the motion also asks for priority considering for remaining school board frontline workers in education settings. These workers range from custodians to teachers.

"Not only are we with the students every day, but we also have the populations that are associated with us," said secondary school teacher Liz Goetze. "I don't want to bring anything to the students here and likewise I don't want to bring anything home.

"Any vaccine that we get is going to be a huge relief on the part of our members. Even if it was only going to provide us with 50 per cent protection, that would still be way better than what we have right now which is zero."

The request from trustees, now on its way to public health and regional council, also hopes these groups who receive their vaccines during the April break, which starts on the 12th, or as soon as possible before June.

The school boards and public health have said they are having regular conversations on this issue, but have no further details on the plan to vaccinate educators at the time.

Some say prioritizing education workers could play a role in what happens after April break.

"If we want to keep the school system open and running and not have to resort to going back to online again, I'd say that would be something that would go a long way," said Rob Gascho with OSSTF Waterloo Region.

Education Minister Stephen Lecce has said he's advocating for education workers to get the vaccine as soon as possible.

With reporting from CTV Kitchener's Krista Simpson