IFP: Teachers should be vaccinated

1 June 2021

The IFP supports the calls by different stakeholders that teachers must be prioritised in Covid-19 vaccination roll-out.

We have lost many teachers to Covid-19 therefore, it is important that we encourage teachers especially those living with comorbidities to get vaccinated. We are mindful that the vaccination programme only priorities people who are 60 years of age or above and those living with comorbidities.

The third wave of Covid-19 is here and could potentially be more deadly than the second wave if the government continues to delay vaccination rollout. With new infections rising rapidly, the country needs to redouble the effort to vaccinate as many people as possible.

Poorly functioning and overly controlling bureaucratic systems must not stand in the way of saving lives therefore, no effort should be spared to vaccinate teachers as this will help in putting children’s education and development back on track while saving lives of teachers, learners, parents and guardians.

We challenge government to be clear about when all the teachers will be vaccinated. This calls for KZN MEC for Education in KZN, Kwazi Mshengu to play his role and advocate for the process of ensuring that all teachers are vaccinated urgently.

He should also raise more awareness about the importance of vaccination among teachers in all schools across the Province.

Issued by Thembeni Madlopha-Mthethwa, IFP KZN Provincial Spokesperson for Education, 1 June 2021