Back to school blues
With school returning this week, families are being urged to get children vaccinated.
The start of a new school year is always a busy time, but this year presents more challenges than usual.
With over 70,000 active Omicron cases across Victoria, families are now grappling with the added concern of vaccinations and potential infections when classes return.
Vaccinations for children aged 5 to 11 years opened in the first week of January and Bass Coast Health (BCH) said at least 1200 children have already attended the clinic at the Wonthaggi Town Hall.
Bass Coast Health CEO Jan Childs said on any day the clinic is vaccinating between 50-100 children.
“There’s some families that have been very responsive, but there will be kids going back to school who haven’t had their dose. We have a good supply and you don’t have to make an appointment. You can just walk in. It’s not too late to bring in your family,” she said.
Last week, the state government released a list of metropolitan schools where mini vaccination clinics would be set up.
Ms Child said BCH had been talking to some local schools about the possibility of vaccination staff coming to the schools, but nothing was formalised yet.
Classroom concerns
Even with the strong vaccine take up, children will be back in the classroom before they are fully vaccinated. Second doses are due to be rolled out in April.
The state government has distributed more than 50,000 air purifiers to schools across Victoria, to help minimise the spread of Covid among students.
Sarah Tyrrell, acting principal at San Remo Primary School said they had received air purifiers for each of the classrooms, which were ready when the students returned.
“We have also received a grant for a new shade sail to develop a new outdoor learning area which we are looking forward to.”
Ms Tyrrell said there were varying levels of concern in the community around vaccinations and keeping the classrooms Covid safe, but most families were keen to have the students back at school.
“We have had lots of offers from family and community members to assist when needed to keep the school running,” she said.
“Staff have shown an amazing ability to do what needs to be done, on a short timeline, over the last two years and continue to put education first for our local students.”
