Mixed reactions about vaccines from education staff

TEACHERS and school staff have expressed excitement, anxiety and some resistance ahead of the vaccination roll-out which begins in the province on Friday.

The national roll-out of the first batch of 300 000 Johnson & Johnson doses in the education sector, for private and public schools, starts tomorrow.

The Department of Basic Education has since urged regular attendance at school by all teachers and staff, with the vaccination programme targeted at 582 000 people in the next two weeks.

Principal Zaahier Jacobs of Perivale Primary School in Lotus River said he will be in line to receive the jab and advocated for others to follow suit.

“Teachers and staff members are front-line workers, as we engage with pupils who come from different backgrounds and communities. The vaccine will provide some sort of defence against Covid-19,” said Jacobs.

Khayelitsha’s Sosebenza Primary School principal Vusumzi Soyeye said about 60% of teachers were looking forward to being vaccinated, especially those in their late fifties.

A secretary from a school in Claremont, who asked to remain anonymous, expressed concern at possibly missing the teachers’ jab, after testing positive for Covid-19 and being in isolation.

“I have registered for the vaccine but my only problem is that I contracted the virus and have to wait for 30 days. There is no provision being made for teachers who get infected before receiving the vaccine,” said the secretary.

A retired Mitchells Plain teacher said: “I am reluctant to take the vaccine. I don’t feel like it has been really tested. There have been reports of many people who became sick after being vaccinated.

“I don’t have anything against people who have opted to take it – but not me at this stage.”