Basseterre: St. Kitts, Thursday, August 26th, 2021: In his address to the nation on Wednesday 25th August, 2021, on ZIZ Radio and Television, the Minister of Education, HonourableJonel Powell, indicated the ministry’s plan in collaboration with the Ministry of Health to offer a covid-19 vaccine to school-aged children 12 years and older. The vaccine will serve as amechanism to mitigate the spread of the virus amongst the youth population and to prevent any further premature closure of schools.
“The Ministry of Education welcomes the acquisition of the Pfizer Vaccines that can be administered to our school-aged children of age 12 years and older. I, therefore, look forward tothe collaboration with the Ministry of Health to host joint information and sensitization sessions for parents and teachers in preparation for the roll out of the Pfizer vaccine,” noted the minister
Minister Powell expressed that the administration of the Pfizer Vaccine is the ministry’s response to the cries made by students and parents for the return to the physical classroom setting, and also a mechanism to minimize the learning experience loss.
“Students have been crying out for the return to face-to-faceinstruction and it is my sincere hope that all parents and guardians of children 12 years and above, will come forward with their children to receive the Pfizer Vaccine so that thechildren would not continue to experience learning loss,”Minister Powell stated.
“Majority of our students and teachers are looking forward to face-to-face instructions within our schools. We are excited by this prospect as well. However, we are very cognizant that for this to continue without significant interruption, it depends significantly on the actions of all of us in adhering to the health and safety protocols, and where possible, taking the available vaccine,” expressed Honourable Powell.
Minister Powell urged parents and teachers who are not yet vaccinated to do so, and encouraged all to continue to adhere to the established non-pharmaceutical protocols. He expressed thatonly through the collective efforts of all will we be able to stop the spread of the Coronavirus.
