Govt will try to vaccinate 55k teachers before school reopens

 

COVID-19 | The special committee on Covid-19 vaccine supply (JKJAV) will try to ensure at least 55,539 teachers receive early access to the Covid-19 vaccine.

At present, the first phase of vaccination will involve medical frontliners, enforcement personnel, welfare officers and elected representatives.

However, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the government will now try to include teachers in the high-risk group under the first phase as well.

"The Education Ministry has provided a name list of 55,539 teachers who are in the high-risk category and have co-morbidities.

"We will work to include the 55,539 teachers in the first phase before school reopens," he added. 

There are a total of 416,743 teachers teaching 4,987,401 students as of July last year, Education Ministry data showed.

Schools turned to online classes after the movement control order (MCO) was reimposed on Jan 13 to control the spread of Covid-19.

However, the government had decided to reopen schools beginning next month.

Pre-schoolers, Standard 1 and 2 students will return to school on March 1 followed by Standard 3 to 6 students on March 8.

Secondary school students will go back to school in April.

Khairy, together with Health Minister Dr Adham Baba, co-chairs the JKJAV. - Mkini