Education activists have cautioned against the call from parents to terminate Covid-19 school vaccine drives, stating it was “too early” to dismiss the pandemic.
Disgruntled parents have called for Covid-19 vaccinations at schools to stop after several schools sent consent letters to homes.
The vaccination roll-out for 12- to 18-year-olds was recommended by the National Vaccine Ministerial Committee last year.
Over the last few months, strict Covid-19 regulations have been eased as daily cases average about 200 to 300.
The Eastern Cape Department of Health is assisting a 14-year-old who developed a large bump on her arm after allegedly being forced to get a Covid-19 vaccine or face deregistration.
According to the SABC, the learner from Tina Falls Primary School in Qumbu was vaccinated without her parents’ consent.
Monique Fredericks, whose son is in Grade 7, said even though she is pro-vaccination, she doesn’t believe that children should be vaccinated.
“I am vaccinated and the way I felt after getting jabbed was like I had (a bad case of the) flu. My body was sore, I could hardly speak and eat, I was out of it.
“I knew about the after-effects because I was informed when I went for my jab and I was monitored thereafter.
“However, the letter doesn’t even explain the after-effects of the jab where children are concerned. Instead, it just states the school will have a pop-up site and here is a letter, sign this.
“The least the government could have done was to properly inform us, so this just gives me more reason to not trust them.”
Parent Paul Jacobs described the letter as an instructional brief about the roll-out.
“It’s enough that we won’t be there when the vaccine gets administered, now we are also left in the dark about the after-effects. By now they should have these things on record to share with the public.
“If I want my child to be vaccinated, I will just take her to a pop-up site.”
According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention website, the most common vaccine side effects for children aged 4 and older included tiredness, muscle or joint pain, swollen lymph nodes, headache and chills.
Over the last two and a half months, 7 145 children aged 12 to 19 were vaccinated in the province, both at vaccination sites and at schools.
Western Cape Health Department spokesperson Mark van der Heever said the Covid-19 vaccine was included in the school-based vaccination programme that has been in place for many years.
“The Pfizer vaccine will only be administered to children who return the consent form, which must be signed by their parents/guardians.
“As per the national programme, participation remains voluntary,” he said.
Western Cape Education Department spokesperson Bronagh Hammond reaffirmed that the programme was voluntary.
“No person will be forced to take the vaccine and learners will be required to get signed permission from their parent or guardian. It applies only to learners above the age of 12 years,” she said.
Hammond said every parent or guardian has the right to exercise their choice in this matter.
Education activist Hendrick Makaneta said while a parent’s views should be respected, Covid-19 remains an issue.
“The question on whether vaccinations should continue at school-based level is debatable. But we would caution government and parents that it’s too early to call for the scrapping of the vaccine.
“We still have Covid-19. Even though we don’t see so many deaths, we should still treat this (seriously).”
Equal Education’s head of research, Hopolang Selebalo, said access to vaccines made classrooms safer.
“We called on the government to urgently roll out vaccine literacy programmes at schools and ensure that vaccines are easily accessible for learners who are older than 12 years,” said Selebalo.
“We recognise that the virus is evolving. While we are seemingly out of the woods in terms of decreased infection rates, it is necessary to ensure that learners and teachers are protected against the virus through having access to vaccines.”
Parents for Equal Education’s chairperson, Vanessa le Roux, said: “The importance is that parents have a choice. I would urge them to read up on the side effects, and protect your children as far as you are able to.”