First minister Nicola Sturgeon has this afternoon expressed her hope that all those aged 12 to 17 will soon be offered Covid vaccinations.
On the day that Scotland recorded the highest number of Covid cases in a 24-hour period in the entire pandemic, she said: “I really hope that the JCVI [Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation] feel that the evidence allows them very very soon to recommend vaccination for all 12- to 17-year-olds.
“Assuming we’ve got advice saying it’s safe to do, I would really like to get on with vaccinating 12- to 17-year-olds, as quickly as we possibly can.”
EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan said his union “supports the Scottish government position of wishing to see all secondary pupils offered the possibility of vaccination, which will help minimise disruption to education”.
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On face coverings in secondary classrooms, which the government had previously said would be required for at least six weeks at the start of the school year, Ms Sturgeon said: “I know how horrible that is for young people. We don’t want that to be a requirement for longer than necessary, but right now we think it is an essential mitigation.”
She added that “we will review [that policy] before we get to the end of six weeks but I think most people would probably understand that if we continue to see transmission at fairly high levels, that’s a mitigation we may have to keep in place”.
The latest Covid figures, published today, indicate that two out of every 100 pupils nationally are currently absent from school for a Covid-related reason. Test positivity among the 2-17 age group has increased to 19.9 per cent this week, up from 18.5 per cent the previous week. A total of 14,914 pupils were absent on 24 August on account of Covid.
Mr Flanagan said: “Clearly these figures will be a cause for concern for school communities - parents, pupils, teachers and staff. They underline the need to remain on guard to ensure schools remain Covid-conscious and that mitigations are maintained.”
Mr Flanagan added: “The EIS believes the change in contact tracing arrangements for schools is creating confusion for parents, pupils and staff. We wish to see all pupils identified as close contacts being required to get a clear PCR test before returning to class. This removes the 10 day self-isolation requirement but offers a quick reassurance to school communities and will reduce the risk of in-school transmission.”
