THE CASE FOR SCHOOLS VACCINES

MANDATORY Covid-19 vaccines for school children may be a controversial measure in Trinidad and Tobago – but is growing in popularity abroad. 

In fact, the proposal has the backing of one of the world’s pre-eminent experts on the disease. 

“I believe that mandating vaccines for children to appear in schools is a good idea,” Dr. Anthony Fauci has said. 

Fauci said he believes the United States Food and Drug Administration will establish a strong benefit-risk ratio, especially now that the Pfizer vaccine has FDA approval. 

Fauci noted: “This is nothing new. We have done this for decades and decades requiring (vaccines for) polio, measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis.” 

He added: “This would not be something new, requiring vaccinations for children to come to school.” 

In an earlier media interview, Fauci had said it should be mandatory for school teachers to have the vaccine. 

“I’m going to upset some people on this,” he stated, “but I think we should (require vaccinations). 

“I mean, we are in a critical situation now.”  

Fauci is director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and President Joe Biden’s chief medical advisor on Covid-19. 

Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley has announced that the Government may consider making vaccinations mandatory if herd immunity is not achieved in the school community within weeks. 

Rowley stated: “If at the end of the period we set, which is mid-September, we… see a population of vaccinated students which is really below herd immunity levels of 60 to 70 per cent, the Government will have to act.” 

He said the Government would permit in-school learning from October 1 for vaccinated students of Forms 4, 5 and 6. 

Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association has termed that planned move “a logistical nightmare.”