Unvaccinated students may be prevented from attending physical classes next year

Students who do not have their parents’ consent for Covid-19 vaccination may not be allowed to attend physical classes in the 2022 school year.

This was among the matters being studied by the Education Ministry and Health Ministry, in assessing the most appropriate measure for these group of students.

Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali said for now, the school administration would work to persuade parents and students who refused to be inoculated.

“This is the same as the issue involving 2,500 teachers who had refused Covid-19 vaccination.

“However, this matter is still under discussion. We will find the best solution so the process of teaching and learning is safe,” he told Berita Harian.

Yesterday, Dr Noor Azmi was reported as saying that the vaccination programme for teenagers aged between 12 and 17 in the country, particularly school students, would begin on Monday.

The Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force-Adolescent (CITF-A) chairman had said the vaccination process would be conducted on school grounds for schools with more than 1,000 students.

For schools that have less than 1,000 students, especially rural schools, their vaccination programme would be consolidated alongside four or other five schools, in an effort to ensure that 80 per cent of teens can be vaccinated before the 2022 school session.

Asked on the daily vaccination target for teens before the new school year beginning March 2022, Dr Azmi said a number had yet to be set as it depended on the type of school and the group of students receiving vaccination.

He said only the Cominarty vaccine by Pfizer Bio-NTech had received conditional approval by the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency, while Sinovac was still awaiting approval.

The Covid-19 immunisation programme for teens had begun in Sarawak since Sept 8, starting with those aged 16 and 17, followed by those aged between 12 and 15 and are categorised as high risk or have chronic illnesses.

Previously, Senior Education Minister Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin had reportedly said that the 2022 school term would only begin in March, as the school session this year had been extended to February next year.

Earlier this month, Radzi had also said 2,500 teachers who refused vaccination without a health-related reason would not be allowed to conduct physical classes, and would be placed in a special area in school when classes resume starting Oct 3.

The Education Ministry is also reviewing follow-up action that can be imposed on this group of teachers. Nst

Unvaccinated students may be prevented from attending physical classes next year

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