Students above 12 to be vaccinated

Health minister Zahid Maleque on Saturday said that the government was working to vaccinate school and college students aged above 12 as it was working to reopen the educational institutions from September 12.

“Following the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation people aged between 12-18 are eligible to receive Moderna and Pfizer jabs,” Zahid said at Tejgaon Girls High School.

He was speaking after inspecting Bangladesh Nursing and Midwifery Comprehensive/Licensing Exam 2021 in the school.

He said that students aged above 18 can be given any vaccine. In developed countries, Pfizer and Moderna jabs are being given to students aged over 12 years.

He said that the decision would be finalised in Monday’s inter-ministerial meeting on how to take the students to the classrooms for physical attendance.

Deputy Minister for Education Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel in another event at Chattogram on Saturday said that education ministry was considering in-person classes one day per week to comply with health guidelines.

“We are also working on how to take the SSC and HSC exams in person, on short syllabuses,” he said while talking to journalists after inaugurating One Stop Emergency Care at Chattogram Medical College Hospital.

Education Minister Dipu Moni on Friday said that all preparations to reopen the primary, secondary and higher secondary level educational institutions have been completed.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told the parliament that she had directed authorities concerned to reopen all schools and colleges soon and that they were taking necessary steps in this regard.

On March 17, 2020, the government closed all educational institutions to contain the spread of Covid-19 after detecting the first virus case on March 8.

The closure was repeatedly extended during the pandemic, although the government allowed the reopening of businesses. On August 31, the government lastly extended the closure of educational institutions until September 11.

The National Technical Advisory Committee (NTAC) on Covid-19 suggested the reopening of the country’s educational institutions as the infection rate showed a downward trend.