Workplace vaccination for teachers of Chandigarh govt schools to start soon

Deepankar Sharda

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 8

As the Government of India has allowed vaccination against Covid-19 at workplaces from April 11, the Director Public Instructions (DPI), Schools, will seek permission from the higher authorities to initiate the drive for the benefit of eligible government schoolteachers.

“Yes, we will take up the matter (vaccination drive) with the UT Director, Health Services. Most of our teachers are below 45 years. However, we can seek permission for eligible teachers,” said Rubinderjit Singh Brar, DPI, Schools, UT Administration.

As per the available data, there are approximately 5,000 teachers, including JBT, TGT, PGT and principals, in the UT Education Department.

The non-teaching staff is also likely to be covered under this drive.

Recently, many government school staff members were found Covid positive. As a precautionary step, amid rise in number of coronavirus cases in Chandigarh, schools were ordered to be closed till April 10.

“This is the need of the hour. Since, teachers have started taking offline classes they are more vulnerable to the virus. The department is likely to start schools in the coming weeks. The priority of officials’ concerned should be to initiate the vaccination drive. The department should treat teachers as frontline warriors,” said one of the schoolteachers.

Will teachers of private schools be vaccinated?

The UT Education Department plans to introduce the workplace vaccination facility. Many local private schools, which have branches in Mohali, have got their teachers vaccinated after taking special permission from the Mohali administration. Teachers were treated as frontline warriors in Mohali and many were administrated the jab.

“We are concerned about our teachers. The Mohali administration treated teachers as frontline warriors. Our teachers were jabbed against Covid. Not all local private schools have done this,” said an official of a local private school.

Yesterday, the Central Government allowed vaccination at workplaces with 100 eligible/willing beneficiaries. The states/UTs have been asked to prepare for the launch of workplace vaccination drive by April 11. As per the directions, only employees aged 45 years and above will be eligible for vaccination at their respective workplace. No outsider, including their eligible family members, will be vaccinated.