If necessary, open the school without vaccination: UNICEF
UNICEF has called for the school to be kept open so that children’s education is not hampered by the complete or partial closure of the school due to the spread of the ‘Omicron’ type of corona. UNICEF made the call in a statement. “Keep the school open,” said Henrietta Four, UNICEF’s executive director. Due to the complete or partial closure of schools, about 618 million children are currently affected in the world.
No child will be left behind if we can ensure investment in digital connectivity. We need to take urgent steps to get every child back to school. This includes providing comprehensive support to marginalized children in each community with a specific focus on certain issues. For example, taking extra classes to fill classroom teaching deficits, providing mental health and nutrition support, protection, and other services.
Immunize teachers and school staff immediately. Teachers and school staff should be given full support and priority in the immunization of Covid-19 immediately after the vaccination of first-line health workers and the high-risk population. UNICEF supports the immunization of children once the privileged population is fully protected and adequate immunization is ensured.
Do not make vaccination a prerequisite for going to school physically. Imposing the condition of physical schooling subject to receiving the Covid-19 vaccine puts children at risk of not getting access to education and increasing discrimination. In line with the World Health Organization’s recommendations, UNICEF recommends that schools and non-vaccinated children and adolescents be kept open and that the
COVID-19 control strategy ensures that children’s participation in learning and other aspects of social life is facilitated. In difficult situations, it is always difficult to make decisions. We acknowledge that the Covid-19 epidemic poses an unprecedented challenge to the education system around the world. However, the risk is very high. Collectively we have to do everything possible to keep the children in school.
