brand logo

No vaccine priority for teachers 

03 Mar 2021

  • Unions threaten action after new term on 15th

  Despite the ongoing GCE Ordinary Level Examination for the year 2020, and the new school term scheduled to commence on 15 March, school teachers have not been included in the priority list for vaccinating against Covid-19. Responding to a question raised at a press conference regarding the prioritisation of teachers in light of the upcoming school term, Ministry of Health Epidemiology Unit Consultant Epidemiologist Dr. Deepa Gamage said that school teachers have not been identified as a priority group. “Under the existing health recommendations, teachers have not been identified as a priority group. But teachers living in areas that are being vaccinated can receive the vaccination.” However, addressing the media in Anuradhapura, Minister of Education Prof. G.L. Pieris said on 8 February that the Covid-19 vaccine is expected to be given to all school teachers by the first week of March. Discussions had been held with the Covid-19 Vaccine Committee Chairman and Senior Advisor to the President Lalith Weerathunga to prioritise school teachers in the public vaccination drive. When inquired by The Morning, Ceylon Teachers Services Union (CTSU) General Secretary Mahinda Jayasinghe said yesterday (2) that the vaccine prioritisation is not systematic and that if school teachers are not vaccinated, action would be taken once the school term begins on 15 March. “We don’t know how the prioritisation is being done. Various people with power including members of pradeshiya sabhas are influencing the vaccination process and manipulating it. Maybe the health authorities have no say because the entire process is politicised. The Minister of Education himself said that school teachers should be prioritised. We will definitely take action against this once schools re-open.” The CTSU handed over a complaint to the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka on 1 March claiming that the lives of teachers, principals, school staff members, students, and their family members have been put in danger by not vaccinating them against Covid-19. Responding to a question raised by The Morning regarding vaccination, Ministry of Education Secretary Prof. Kapila Perera said that school teachers would be vaccinated as more stocks of the vaccine arrive in the country. “We were informed yesterday that teachers would be vaccinated as new stocks of vaccines arrive in the country.” Meanwhile, the Health Ministry has decided to vaccinate everyone over 30 years of age, The Morning learnt from Deputy Director General of Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath. A total of 1 million Covishield vaccines have been received by Sri Lanka so far from the Serum Institute of India, and the country awaits a batch of 264,000 vaccines from the COVAX Facility provided by the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation. Sri Lanka began its vaccination drive in the last week of January.  


More News..