The government is planning to vaccinate all school teachers across India on priority before the National Teachers Day on September 5. “In addition to the plan to provide vaccine to every state this month, more than 2 crore vaccine doses are being made available. We have requested all the states to try to vaccinate all school teachers on priority before Teachers’ Day, which is celebrated on 5th September,” said Minister of Health and Family Welfare Mansukh Mandaviya.

Education Minister has also asked states to contribute towards achieving the goal. “Along with securing our future generation against Coronavirus, this will prove to be a decisive step towards removing the obstacles in their studies due to this pandemic. I also request all the state governments to give their support and cooperation to this campaign in order to strengthen the foundation of the future.”

Schools across the country have been shut since March 2020. Students have been carrying out studies in online mode, however, due to lack of devices, lack of proper internet connection, many students have not been able to attend classes. As schools are gradually reopening amid fear of the third wave of COVID-19 and the lack of vaccines available for school-going children under the age of 18, vaccination for teachers is being prioritised.

While countries like the United States, Canada, and now Singapore have approved vaccinations for children, India is yet to roll out such a policy for its population below 18. The fear among parents has worsened as several reports suggest that children might be hit harder in the third wave of the pandemic.

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