Give pupils consent to vaccinate
MBABANE - The Ministry of Health has said that parents should give consent for their children to be vaccinated in schools.
This comes after Manzini Central High School became the first school in the country to allow the vaccination of pupils.
With the external classes preparing for their examinations, Manzini Central High School as reported by this publication was the first in the kingdom to encourage its learners aged 18 and above, to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The school conducted its first vaccination exercise with the Johnson & Johnson jab.
Director of Health Services Dr Vusi Magagula said for the vaccination programme about to take place in schools, consent must be provided by parents of the children.
“Age of majority in the country is 18 years hence anyone who seeks the vaccination will receive it.No one will be forced we are in a process of completing the consent forms,’’ said Magagula.
Effects
In addition, he said they were fine tuning the whole process and were going to document any adverse effects reported to them.
“So far very little side effects were reported ,so we may document and where necessary send it to the technical teams but not much has been reported yet,’’ said Magagula during an interview with this publication.
Recently, this publication reported that parents welcomed the idea of their children getting vaccinated.
This was after reports that in neighbouring South Africa, the SA Health
Products Authority approved the use of the Pfizer COVID19 vaccine on children aged 12 and older after receiving updated information from the manufacturers, according to News24.
In the same breath, Minister of Health Lizzie Nkosi said although some parents felt strongly about the idea of vaccinating their children, the children were advised to seek guidance.
“18- year olds do not need parental consent to seek health care.
“This, however, does not mean they should not discuss with their parents,’’ said the minister.
A parent interviewed by this publication said she did not mind allowing her high school child to get vaccinated. The parent said getting vaccinated was the only guarantee for their family to not get COVID-19.
“It is better to be safe than sorry. Getting vaccinated and allowing my children to vaccinate has to count as one of the best decisions I have made for my family.
“I do not see any problem in allowing children to get vaccinated, it is for their good,’’ said the parent.