Get 2nd dose by Sept 5, state tells school teachers & staff

The state government has asked teaching and non-teaching staff of schools awaiting their second dose to get vaccinated by September 5, which is celebrated as Teachers Day.

Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday held a meeting with all states and union territories to take stock of immunisation of teachers and staff. Around two crore vaccine doses to vaccinate teachers and staff is expected to reach states and union territories between August 27 and 31.

Vaccination is key in reopening schools. Across rural Maharashtra, where schools have reopened for class 8-12 students, only fully vaccinated teachers and staff have been allowed to report to work. The family welfare department in a circular said that priority vaccination of teachers and school staff awaiting second dose will be carried out. Teachers have complained of having to work in quarantine centres without being fully vaccinated.