Unvaccinated students in Antigua and Barbuda are given 14 days to become vaccinated
Unvaccinated students in Antigua and Barbuda have 14 days to get their first shot of a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine, or they will be removed from classes.
The advisory from Information Minister Melford Nicholas comes after the government met with Chief Medical Officer Dr Rhonda Sealey-Thomas and Director of Education Clare Browne during yesterday's cabinet meeting.
A note from the cabinet meeting said Sealey-Thomas informed ministers that based on the present country's epidemiological situation, all schools could resume face-to-face instruction from 2nd November 2021.
She said that all students eligible to be vaccinated must do so within 14 days.
"We are expecting all those eligible students to become vaccinated as the vaccines have now become available," Nicholas said as he noted only students with an exemption will be speared of the vaccine mandate.
About 3,000 students between 12 and 18 are unvaccinated.
The eligible group of students is around 8,000.
All teachers in public and private schools will also be required to be vaccinated before they can teach.
Nicholas could not say if online learning will continue for the unvaccinated students, but he noted the platform would continue to be part of the country's educational framework.
He added the Education Ministry would roll out phase two of a program that will see a mix of face-to-face and remote learning.
By next week, Antigua and Barbuda will receive 21,000 Pfizer vaccines from the US Government.
Students will be given priority when these vaccines arrive.
Children 5 to 11 years old may soon be eligible to receive the vaccine shots, and Nicholas said discussions are underway to ensure vaccines are available for them.
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