Minedu evaluates the case of schoolchildren who would not be vaccinated against COVID-19: "They depend on their parents"

The Minister of Education, Rosendo Serna, pointed out this Friday that the case of parents who oppose the application of the vaccine against COVID-19 to their children is discussed with the ministries involved in order to guarantee a safe return to face-to-face classes next March.

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After the intergovernmental meeting between the Ministry of Education (Minedu), the Directing Council of the National Assembly of Regional Governments (ANGR) and the Regional Directors and Managers of Education, the official recalled that to date About 95% of teachers in the country completed the application of the two doses of the vaccine against COVID-19, and that progress is being made in placing the booster dose.

Serna also stressed that although the vaccination of minors against the coronavirus is voluntary, it is also the decision of the parents, since they are the ones who give consent for the application of the doses. The head of the Minedu assured that they have been holding meetings with the Ministry of Health (Minsa) and that they will make decisions regarding this situation.

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“You have to understand that you also have to respect the opinions. If we are going to be focused on an opinion that is given regarding the subject, well, we are going to have to evaluate. We are in permanent dialogue and meeting with the Health sector. Possibly a norm will come out that defines multisectoral work, but that does not mean that we have not met. We have had two multisectoral meetings and there the role of the Minsa is important”, express.

The Minedu ruled on the case of parents who oppose the application of the COVID-19 vaccine to their children close to the next start of face-to-face classes in the country.

“The Teachers, to enter the school, must have their vaccination card. The case of the students is under analysis, under discussion, to see what we do there because they depend on their parents. At the time we will announce this topic because the classes are scheduled so that on March 28 there is no institution that has not started its classes”He added.

Along these lines, the Minister of Education highlighted the importance of immunization as a tool against a pandemic such as COVID-19. “The country has 8 million students, so imagine if there were 5% [de no vacunados], how much does this mean with respect to the non-vaccine, but in situations of health emergency, the vaccine response is important and teachers, parents and students will need to be vaccinated as well. We are working so that it turns out that way”, He said.

When asked that if the Education sector is thinking about the propose alternatives such as differentiated classrooms for vaccinated and unvaccinated schoolchildren, the official indicated “we are in the process to see how we do this issue [de caso de estudiantes no vacunados] and surely we will give an adequate solution”.

Next week will start vaccination of children from 5 to 11 years and the first group to be immunized are children aged 5 to 11 years with comorbidities and immunosuppression; in addition to children between 10 and 11 years old. Meanwhile, the vaccination of adolescents 12 years and older started in October 2021.