Hundreds of private school pupils aged 16 and over receive Covid-19 vaccine
Some private schools in the UAE began vaccination drives to ensure pupils aged 16 and over receive the Covid-19 shot.
School chiefs believe immunising pupils against the disease is important to building a safe environment and helping pupils feel secure as they prepare for university.
UAE authorities urged people aged 16 and above to take the Covid-19 vaccine to help break the chain of infection.
Pali Nahal, acting principal at Uptown International School in Dubai, said about 100 pupils at the school received both doses of the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine under the initiative.
The school is part of Taaleem, one of the largest education providers in the UAE. Taaleem booked appointments for pupils at Dubai Health Authority centres and teachers accompanied the children to help them.
About 250 pupils from Taaleem schools have been vaccinated so far.
“Getting the vaccine will give pupils reassurance and security, especially at the end of the year,” Ms Nahal said.
She said ensuring teachers and pupils could receive a shot was a priority for the school.
Gems Education carried out two vaccination drives in March and April.
Teresa Varman, principal at Gems Millennium School in Sharjah, said pupils received their first dose of vaccine as part of a group-wide initiative at Gems New Millennium School Al Khail, Dubai, early last month.
The Sharjah school arranged for pupils to be vaccinated after receiving permission from parents.
“I think pupils being vaccinated takes us all one step closer to normalcy,” said Ms Varman.
“The vaccine goes a long way in protecting them. There is a resurgence of hope and optimism which encourages us.”
About 90 pupils, 60 per cent of those eligible, have received their first dose of the Sinopharm vaccine and they will soon receive their second dose, Ms Varman said.
“We held a graduation for them because most of them had taken the vaccine,” she said.
Pupils in their final year attended the graduation ceremony at the school, an event that included farewell speeches.
Pupils who had not been vaccinated were required to take a Covid-19 test to attend.
Most of the 235 teaching and administrative staff at the school have been inoculated against Covid-19.
Santosh Hadinaru, health, safety and environment manager at Gems Education, said the group encouraged parents to ensure their children received their shots if they were eligible.
“Having more of our eligible pupils vaccinated reduces the risk and prevents the spread of infection within the school community,” he said.
“This ultimately gives peace of mind to parents who know that their children are protected now.”
Gems Education helped pupils, parents and family members receive the vaccine through school initiatives.
Mr Hadinaru said the group planned to carry out more vaccination drives.
Meanwhile, about eight in 10 private schoolteachers in Dubai have received their first dose of vaccine.
In January, 60 per cent of private education staff in Abu Dhabi – 15,000 people – received their first dose of the Sinopharm vaccine after a two-week vaccination drive organised by the Department of Education and Knowledge, the emirate’s private school regulator.