COVID-19 vaccine drive in the works for schools

The Ministry of Education is working with the Ministry of Health and Wellness to get a COVID-19 vaccination bus on the road to visit schools when the third term begins next week.

Chief Education Officer Dr Ramona Archer-Bradshaw said during a press conference on Thursday that the Ministry of Health will deploy the bus as soon as possible to get more children vaccinated.

She insisted that vaccination remains one of the best protections against the virus which is still a concern given a recent surge in new cases.

The Chief Education Officer said the response rate to the vaccination permission forms sent out to parents was relatively high, with more than 130 names already placed on a list.

“I want it to be very clear that the medical officer of health or the nurse will not be vaccinating any child without parental consent,” Archer-Bradshaw insisted. “So, parents, if you want your children to be vaccinated, make sure that you sign them up, check your children’s inbox for that form, and the principals will disseminate the form.”

Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Anton Best said the Ministry of Health was continuing its efforts to acquire COVID-19 Pfizer vaccines for children between the ages of five and 11.

“Hopefully, within the next few weeks we will have some. We are working assiduously to try to procure some and that is the most that I can tell you right now. We don’t have it but we are working towards getting it,” he said. (AH)