The Department of Education has welcomed a report from the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS), which confirmed that achieving a high rate of vaccination among eligible staff, parents and students (over 16) was a critical step towards reducing the spread of COVID-19.
In a statement, the Department said the NCIRS Report COVID-19 in schools and early childhood education and care services – the experience in NSW: 16 June to 31 July 2021, found that most children diagnosed with COVID-19 during the current outbreak experienced mild or no symptoms, with two per cent requiring hospitalisation.
“The Report also confirmed the importance of the restrictions in place as part of the Department’s back-to-school plan developed alongside NSW Health,” the Department said.
“The Report should give students, staff, parents and carers confidence that when school returns, the settings and plans in place will protect everyone involved,” it said.
The Department said vaccinations would be mandatory from 8 November for all education staff across all sectors.
“To support the return to classrooms and early childhood education and care services, we encourage all eligible staff, students (over 16) and family members to seek an available vaccination and help protect both themselves and other members of their educational community from COVID-19,” it said.
“Parents are strongly encouraged to get the vaccine as soon as possible.”
The Department said it had worked closely with NSW Health throughout the pandemic to ensure the safety of the sector and the community and would continue to ensure that those identified as close contacts were contacted through the appropriate health channels.
“We also are grateful to the parents, teachers, educators and principals who have strived to keep school and communities safe throughout the pandemic, and ensured children and young people received a high-quality education in both face-to-face and learning from home settings,” it said.
The 10-page NCIRS Report can be accessed at this PS News link.
