State on Saturday directed the Deputy Commissioners of all the 24 districts to ensure that the second dose of vaccine is administered to the teachers of class 9 to 12 on priority basis by August 10 and such teachers who are yet to get completely vaccinated avoid visiting schools until they receive the second dose of the vaccine.
The development comes soon after the Government decided to resume in-person classes for students of classes 9 to 12 in schools across the State. In a recent meeting of the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), it was decided to reopen schools and coaching institutes for senior students from August 2.
“Some teachers of classes 9 to 12 have not received both doses of the vaccine against Covid-19. All the district education officers are hereby directed to ensure complete vaccination of such teachers on priority basis through special drives by August 10,” the letter from National Health Mission (NHM) Director Umashankar Singh stated.
As per Covid protocol, only such teachers who have been completely vaccinated should be allowed to visit schools and take classes as a precautionary measure, health officials said.
Most of the teachers in government and private schools have received at least one dose of vaccine against Covid-19 in Jharkhand, said health officials, claiming that special vaccination drives were run in different schools to ensure that the teachers get vaccinated. A few teachers, mostly those below the age of 45 years, have only been partially-vaccinated and were waiting for their second jab, said an official, adding that such teachers would be vaccinated on priority basis so that they can take in-person classes in schools.
Schools have remained mostly closed for regular classes since the pandemic first hit Jharkhand back in March 2020. While in-person classes for some students were allowed after the first wave, the government had to again close schools as the second wave of the pandemic hit Jharkhand.
As per government data, the state has so far administered the first dose of vaccine against Covid-19 to at least 80 lakh residents and the second dose to around 20 lakh residents.
State’s decision of reopening schools for students of classes 9 to 12 has drawn a mixed response from parents and academicians amid the fear of a possible third wave of the pandemic looming large over Jharkhand. Experts have also warned that the third wave may mostly affect children and the state should take extra precaution in keeping them safe.