Khanh Hoa provincial education and training sector in cooperation with the health sector is accelerating Covid-19 vaccination roll-out among students before the start of the new school year...
Khanh Hoa provincial education and training sector in cooperation with the health sector is accelerating Covid-19 vaccination roll-out among students before the start of the new school year under Khanh Hoa Provincial People’s Committee’ direction. Accordingly, the vaccination campaign takes place on August 22 - 29 with the target of 95% of students vaccinated against Covid-19.
Vaccine coverage among kids is still low
According to the Department of Health, by August 19, in Khanh Hoa Province, more than 80,360 kids aged 5 to under 12 received the first dose, accounting for 57.41% with 25.07% getting the second. Over 100% of kids aged 12 to under 18 received the first and second doses with 31.9% administered with the third shots. The vaccine coverage is still low compared with the average level nationwide. 60.7% of parents have filled out Covid-19 vaccination consent forms for their 5-11 year-old children, according to Dr. Ton That Toan, Deputy Director of Khanh Hoa Center for Disease Control.
 5-11-year-old children get vaccinated against Covid-19 in Vinh Thai Commune, Nha Trang City.
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According to school leaders, following the direction and guidance at all levels, head teachers are asked to encourage parents to take their kids to vaccination sites. During the summer break, teachers frequently update the list of children eligible for vaccination and send vaccination addresses and schedules to parents. However, in spite of teachers’ much persuasion effort, some parents are still reluctant to let their kids be vaccinated for Covid-19.
Striving to increase vaccination coverage
According to Nguyen Duc Son, Deputy Director of Khanh Hoa Department of Education & Training, to increase the Covid-19 vaccination coverage among students before the start of the new school year, Khanh Hoa Department of Education & Training has just requested Divisions of Education and Training and affiliations to continue strictly implementing Covid-19 vaccination guidance and directions among officials, teachers and students; urge Covid-19 vaccination take-up among cadres and civil servants under the direction of the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee in an effort to ensure schools are safe and ready for the start of new school year. The Department also instructed Divisions of Education and Training and affiliations to urgently develop plans on epidemic prevention and control and online teaching and learning for schools and classes with low vaccination coverage to help minimize transmission.
Earlier, the Department of Education & Training had launched a coronavirus vaccine rollout campaign among teachers, students and officials to get ready for the 2022-2023 back-to-school day. The Department required schools to promote propaganda for Covid-19 vaccination among officials, teachers, staff, parents and students, especially those aged 5 to under 12 and 12 to under 18 to raise awareness of the importance and responsibilities for making a critical choice to be vaccinated.
In addition, the department has accelerated the coronavirus vaccine rollout to meet the targets that 100% of kids aged 5 to under 12 receive the first and second doses and kids aged 12 to under 18 are administered with the third shots; teachers and officials with third and fourth doses by the end of September. The concentrated inspection campaign runs on August 22 (back-to-school day for the first-graders) and on August 29 (back-to-school day for other education levels); 95% of students in the eligible groups are vaccinated.
Vaccination has proved to be critical in the prevention against Covid-19, putting the pandemic under control and protecting the health of everyone, especially children when entering a new school year. Therefore, parents are advised not to miss their kids’ opportunity of vaccination as it is the right and responsibility of everyone for keeping kids, families and the community safe and healthy, according to Dr. Ton Tat Toan.
L.N
Translated by N.T
