COVID-19: UAE schools fully support nationwide teacher vaccination drive

Dubai: UAE’s drive to vaccinate faculty academics and employees in opposition to COVID-19 is quick approaching 100 per cent, principals stated, with some schools already reporting full vaccination.

Total in Dubai, 70 per cent of academics have taken their first or each the doses, the Data and Human Improvement Authority (KHDA) revealed final Monday. In Sharjah, greater than 82.2 per cent of academics and administration employees at schools have taken their first dose, and greater than 70.three per cent have taken their second dose as nicely, Sharjah Non-public Schooling Authority stated on April 22.

Dubai faculty principals stated they confronted no hardship in motivating employees to take the jab. Dubai British Basis is among the schools with all its employees vaccinated. Different schools in its cluster, Dubai British College Jumeirah Park (DBSJP) and Dubai British College Emirates Hills (DBS-EH) have 92 per cent vaccinated employees. The schools are a part of the Taaleem schooling group.

Rebecca Coulter, vice-principal, DBSJP, stated: “Our staff are fully supportive of the national vaccination drive and as such, have been keen to participate in the vaccination scheme. Taaleem have been instrumental in organising appointments to allow our staff to receive the vaccine. We also received individual recognition from KHDA for our efforts to ensure our staff are vaccinated and safe.”

Isabelle Tonnesen, a category teacher at DBS-EH who has taken the vaccine, stated: “As a teacher, I feel duty-bound to care for my students, parents and staff team. The pandemic is not over yet but the efficacy of the vaccine rollout is certainly a step in the right direction. I am proud to have made my mark by fighting against this seemingly unrelenting virus.”

DBS-EH principal Simon Jodrell stated: “All staff — academic, auxiliary and administrative — at DBS-EH have been both keen and proud to be involved in the UAE’s vaccination drive. With more than 92 per cent of staff vaccinated, the DBS group has been incredibly successful in encouraging the vaccination.”

Lisa Johnson, principal, American Academy for Women, stated being vaccinated was additionally “a huge morale booster” for the varsity workforce. All its eligible employees have been vaccinated; the varsity has not had any constructive employees circumstances for COVID-19 since March 1. Johnson added: “It was a bit like a celebratory field trip as we went as a group to get vaccinated. As educators, we have had to teach with a hybrid model and social distancing has dampened the spirit and liveliness that is at the heart of the school. The availability and variety of vaccines in the UAE has really provided the light at the end of the tunnel.”

Johnson stated the international employees on the faculty felt “very fortunate” to reside within the UAE throughout the pandemic. “The clear guidelines for safety procedures and availability of fast and economic testing, compared to many other countries, is a true point of pride for Dubai. Importantly, the rapid availability of free vaccines truly demonstrates the UAE’s commitment to the health of the citizenry.”

Nearly all (99.5 per cent) of eligible employees members at Uptown Worldwide College (UIS) too have taken the shot, stated appearing principal Pali Nahal. “At UIS, it has not been challenging for us to encourage teachers to take the vaccine. As an extra precautionary measure, we have also ensured all contracted staff, including cleaners and security staff, are vaccinated. We also extended the vaccination drive to offer the vaccine to our Grade 12 students.”

Jonathan Bramley, vice-president for communications at GEMS Schooling, the UAE’s greatest non-public faculty group, stated throughout its community of 43 schools within the UAE, 94 per cent of all eligible staff have already been vaccinated. GEMS anticipates it should attain the 100 per cent mark inside the subsequent two weeks. Bramley stated: “In January, we had rolled out our ‘I Chose to Vaccinate’ campaign, which has been highly successful in allaying any doubts around vaccines, communicating the importance and many advantages of being vaccinated, and encouraging all eligible staff to get inoculated as soon as possible.”

He added: “Another significant factor in the success of our vaccination drive has been the guidance and support of UAE regulators and health authorities, especially in terms of prioritising vaccinations among education sector and frontline workers and helping to facilitate vaccinations for our staff.”