THOUSANDS OF PUPILS ARE GIVEN VACCINE IN FIRST WEEK OF DRIVE
Children glad to play role in making schools safe and speeding up complete return to classes
Private schools in the UAE have inoculated thousands of pupils in the week since the authorities approved the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for children aged 12 to 15.
Principals believe the move will reassure parents about sending their children back to school and help pupils resume in-person extra-curricular activities.
Delhi Private School Dubai booked slots for more than 2,000 pupils to be vaccinated in the first week, of whom 800 received their first dose at the weekend. About 4,000 pupils attend the school.
Gems Education, the country’s largest school provider, has ensured more than 1,800 pupils have received their first dose.
“This is an important step to make our school campus safer,” said Rashmi Nandkeolyar, principal of Delhi Private School Dubai.
“When we came to know vaccinations were allowed for children, we swung into action within a day.
“We feel that the vaccinations will extend safety not just to the school but to the wider community. We wanted to do it as fast as possible, as this is for the greater good of everybody.”
The school collaborated with the Ministry of Health and Prevention to organise vaccinations at the Grand Hyatt Dubai.
Hundreds of pupils from the school are being inoculated each day this week. They are accompanied by their parents, with staff on hand to help.
The school wants as many eligible pupils as possible to be vaccinated to hasten a complete return of pupils to campus.
“Distance learning is efficient but it can’t replace the kind of energy and collaboration that takes place in a classroom,” Ms Nandkeolyar said.
“Once the majority of children are vaccinated, more children can come on campus and we can resume our holistic programme of activities.”
The 1,800 Gems Education pupils inoculated so far are the first of 42,000 eligible for the vaccine. By the end of this week, 8,000 will have received their first dose, said Elmarie Venter, chief operations and marketing officer.
“Gems will continue its work throughout the summer to ensure all our schools remain as safe as possible for our communities, and we are delighted to welcome 1,600 new teachers in August,” she said.
“We believe that with this campaign of vaccinations for all pupils aged 12 and over, we can take a big step towards all our pupils safely returning to the classroom.”
The new teachers will also be immunised.
Pupils were excited and a little nervous about receiving their vaccinations.
Riva Tulpule, 15, a pupil at Gems Modern Academy, was so keen that she travelled to Ajman with her family for her first dose last Wednesday.
“When they opened up vaccines I was excited to take it,” Riva said. “The vaccine makes me feel very protected.”
Her parents have already been inoculated. “I definitely feel more secure and comfortable now,” she said.
Riva said the only side effect she felt was a slight pain in her arm.
“These are tough times. I urge everyone to take the vaccine, because this is the first stage of protecting yourself,” she said.
Venkat Talluri, 12, who attends Delhi Private School
Dubai, received his first dose on Friday.
“It hurt a little initially, but I wanted to take the vaccine,” Venkat said. “People don’t need to be scared.”
He said he was looking forward to playing sports such as football and tennis.
Talluri Madhavi, Venkat’s mother, said having her child vaccinated would make her feel more secure. She said vaccinating children helped to keep others safe.
Aryan Pardasani, 13, an Indian pupil at Delhi Private School Dubai, said everyone should be immunised.
“It stings a little but it’s worth it,” he said.
Aryan said being immunised would help him feel better while going out to play with friends.
“It makes me feel confident that the virus will not touch me,” he said.
“I wanted to play a lot of sports and this has given me more freedom.”
The 1,800 pupils from Gems Education who have been inoculated so far are the first of 42,000 eligible for the vaccine