Jamaica: Over 99,887 secondary school students get 1st jab of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine

Jamaica: Over 99,887 secondary school students get 1st jab of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine
Jamaica: Over 99,887 secondary school students get 1st jab of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine

In Jamaica, so far, a total of 99,887 students have received at least one jab of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

Fayval Williams, Minister of Education, Youth and Information, on November 9, revealed the number of vaccinated students in sitting of the House of Representatives.

Minister Williams said, “We are still guided by the national average vaccination threshold of 65 per cent, meaning, as soon as the number of students who are fully vaccinated in our schools gets to 65 per cent, those students can begin to return to face-to-face classes. We will still have the other modalities online, audio/visual, learning kit available for those students whose parents have chosen to not let their children take the vaccination.”

The decision of giving the approval for administering the first dose of Pfizer vaccine to students studying in secondary schools was taken on November 8 by the cabinet.

Williams said the Deputy Chief Education Officer, who is in charge of school operations, is busy helping schools to ramp up so that students, age 12 to 18, can get vaccinated and get back to school as quickly as possible.

She stated that the administration has an appropriate quantity of vaccines as compared to the number of students in schools. The nursing staff is making it convenient for the students to get access to vaccines. She urged the school leaders, teachers, administrators, and the staff at their schools to get themselves vaccinated first.

Students and all the other staff members working in school premises should get vaccinated so that they can create ‘resilient corridors’ in our schools, Williams added.

She further highlighted how a resilient corridor has worked well in the tourism sector and keeps the people safe.

“Let’s get vaccinated. Let’s get back to life,” the Minister cited.

Dr Judith Clarke, Principal of Giddy Hall Primary School in St. Elizabeth, stated that the education has emerged stronger after the physical classes resumed on the island. Now students show greater interest in their studies.