TimesLIVE reports that the Department of Basic Education will not oppose the vaccination of pupils if the national health department issues that directive, minister Angie Motshekga said at the weekend.

She added that the department would need to get parental consent to facilitate the vaccination process. Motshekga indicated: “If health says learners must be vaccinated and parents consent, we will work on the logistics. Even with the teachers, we work with mobilising and on the logistics, but it's not in our hands to decide on who gets vaccinated where and when. I'm aware that other countries are already beginning to consider the vaccination of young people. We will learn from them and see what we do as a country. We will do what we have to do, advised by the interministerial advisory committee.” According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), its Strategic Advisory Group of Experts recently concluded that the Pfizer/BionTech vaccine is suitable for use by people aged 12 years and above, while vaccine trials were ongoing to establish the effectiveness of Covid-19 vaccines on children younger than 12 years. Motshekga also said pupils had lost about two years of learning since the pandemic started. “It's very devastating. Last year we lost 75% of teaching time but in terms of learning, it's even worse than the time we lost. If nothing happens drastically, we're going to face a catastrophic future with the generation we have. Schooling is supposed to be 12 years. It's just too much and very dangerous for the future of our country and children,” she lamented.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Cebelihle Bhengu at TimesLIVE

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