School vaccination procedure outlined

The Department of Basic Education (DBE) is standing firm on its decision for primary school pupils to return to school full-time, despite a spike in Covid-19 infections.

Last Friday, the Council of Education Ministers (CEM) held a special meeting to consider a report from the Department of Health on the latest developments regarding the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

ALSO READ: Covid-19: How to deal with the stress of “back to school”

On 28 May, the Department issued a Government Gazette, announcing that primary school pupils would return to school on the first day of the third term (28 July).

Minister for Basic Education Angie Motshekga said government was guided by various studies which looked into the teaching and learning losses already suffered in the sector, the scientific evidence regarding the impact of the coronavirus on younger children, and advice from the medical fraternity.

Motshekga said the DBE gave itself two months to prepare for the full-time return of primary school children. ‘We are aware that there are many variables that will make this task a success,’ she said.

‘The DBE is currently holding one-on-one sessions with each provincial education department to check their state of readiness.’

She said the department is urging all schools to apply the Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs) when managing Covid-19 related cases, as well as having a Covid-19 committee, a Covid-19 file, and compliance officers.

‘We will, however, take guidance from structures such as the Ministerial Advisory Committee, NCCC and cabinet on this matter as part of a wider approach in the fight against Covid-19.

There has to be scientific reasons for all decisions that are taken.’

Vaccinations

The school vaccination programme will run from Wednesday, 23 June to Thursday, 8 July – a day before schools close to end the second school term.

The programme aims to vaccinate 582 000 people over 10 to 14 days (weekdays and weekends), or seven to 10 days (weekdays only).

Those to be vaccinated include:

All personnel staff in the DBE (teachers, administrative and support staff) at public schools irrespective of their age School

Governing Body appointed teachers

Teachers employed by independent schools registered in terms of the South African Schools Act

Staff who transport children to and from schools

Staff who support the school feeding scheme – food handlers

Staff who do remote learning programmes (TV and radio) Staff of teacher unions

Other contracted staff who provide security, do cleaning and other functions at school.

Those who may not qualify to be vaccinated are:

Any person who has contracted Covid-19 in the past 30 days

Any person who was been vaccinated using another vaccine (Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson, under Sisonke)

Any person who has received a flu vaccine in the past 14 days

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