KJ: Teachers to receive at least first dose of vaccine before schools reopen

 

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin today assured that all school teachers will at least receive their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine before schools reopen in September.

Besides teachers, he said supporting staff and contract service staff will also get their first dose prior to the reopening of schools.

"As of yesterday, a total of 303,682 or 73.5 percent of all teachers and a total of 45,197 or 67 percent of supporting staff have received their first dose of vaccine," he told the special Parliament sitting today.

As for contract service staff, he said 33,033 or 38 percent of them have gotten their first dose.

Contract service staff includes canteen operators and workers, security personnel, cleaners, and school van or bus drivers, he said.

"Together with the minister of education, we (will ensure) all education staff are given the first dose of a vaccine before the opening (of schools)," he said.

He said similar efforts will also be taken by other educational institutions, including vocational schools and higher learning institutions.

On June 15, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announced that all schools will be reopened gradually when the country enters Phase 3 of the National Recovery Plan that is expected to take place in September and October.

The Education Ministry later decided that schools will reopen starting Sept 1 subject to risk assessments by the Health Ministry and the National Security Council (NSC).

Many raised concerns over the September date for school to reopen as the country is still struggling to flatten the current Covid-19 wave.

Khairy, who is also the coordinating minister for the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (NIP), acknowledged that some teachers declined to be vaccinated.

"I urged the school management to reach out to these groups so that there will be no outbreak after school reopens," he said.

Meanwhile, he said Malaysia has arrived at a mutual agreement with Singapore to recognise each other's "vaccination passports".

"We are working on reciprocal recognition with countries bilaterally. We have an agreement with Singapore where the latter will recognise our mobile application MySejahtera while we recognise its application in our country," he said.

"We are having similar negotiations with the European Union, China, as well as other countries," he said.

Previously, Khairy said those who completed their vaccination will have a yellow profile on their MySejahtera which acts as a vaccine passport that will allow them a certain degree of freedom in some previously banned activities. - Mkini