The number of Covid-19 infections has steadily dropped in Malaysia as the vaccination rate continues to rise. Several countries like Singapore have adopted the idea of ‘living with the virus’, while Malaysia plans to emulate the ‘endemic’ strategy.

One of the pathways towards the endemic strategy is for examination year students enrolled in international, private and national schools to return to the classroom in phases.

Schools commenced on Oct 3 in states that have reached Phase 2 to Phase 4 under the National Recovery Plan. Meanwhile, the education ministry announced that 90.5% of educators were vaccinated while many school staff are awaiting their second dose.

In September, students aged 12 to 17, including boarding school and home-schooled students, received their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine. Improved, more stringent SOPs will be enforced to ensure the safety of children returning to school.

According to health minister Khairy Jamaluddin, who shared the news on vaccination for teens on Sept 8, students will be given the Pfizer vaccine. In October, Sinovac vaccines will be administered as an alternative if some students are not suited to receive the Pfizer vaccine.

The Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force – Adolescent (CTIF-A) targets to inoculate 60% of teenagers in the country by November this year.

Singapore is currently transitioning into an endemic phase. The Pfizer vaccine was administered to teens beginning June 3, with schools ready to open in stages by June 28.

Despite calls for schools to close as the number of Covid-19 cases in Singapore rose, the finance minister stood firm on keeping schools open.

However, primary schools in Singapore shifted to home-based learning starting Sept 27 and extended it for two weeks as a means to protect students below the age of 12 who are still not eligible for vaccination. Private education institutions are expected to comply with the guideline too.

Over in Bangkok, Thailand, students 12 to 18 years old with underlying health conditions are receiving the Pfizer vaccine, whereas students between the ages of 10 and 18 will receive the Sinopharm vaccine.

The Thai health ministry will be vaccinating students in 29 provinces heavily affected by the coronavirus, including Bangkok.

Schools have been closed in the region since December last year. However, the Governor of Bangkok is looking to reopen schools, possibly in November this year, when 70% of the one million student population are vaccinated.

Thailand’s education ministry has introduced a programme called “Sandbox Safety Zone in School” that allows 68 schools across the country to reopen under strict conditions.

From a global perspective, major countries have begun the vaccination process for students over the age of 12.

The China National Pharmaceutical Group Corporation Sinopharm, released data that the Sinopharm vaccine was suitable for children as young as three years old.

Data from the trial, currently administered to children aged 12, suggests a “robust immune response” but had limited data on the vaccine’s response to the virus variants.

According to China’s education ministry, 91% of students aged 12 to 17 have been fully vaccinated.

Children in the EU have also been vaccinated against Covid-19.

Denmark has vaccinated their 12- to 15-years-olds, whereas Spain has successfully vaccinated their 12- to 19-years-olds. Teenagers in these countries have received at least one dose with the majority in France having received at least one dose as well.

Over in North America, the teenage population has been vaccinated with Pfizer and Moderna due to the rise of the Delta variant there.

However, students in Texas below the age of 15, are not being vaccinated and are battling vaccine misinformation and championing their rights to be vaccinated, ABC News reported.

Over 7.5 million people aged 16 to 49 in the state have already received both their vaccine shots, while nine million have received at least one dose.

California has vaccinated 3.29% (292,523) of its population who is 17 years old and below with 9.45% (838,855) of its teenage population having already received one dose.

Countries surrounding the Asean region are ready to live with Covid-19 for the long term. Still, challenges to ensure onsite learning goes smoothly depends on how the ministries and various task forces work together with schools to ensure a seamless transition education-wise and SOP-wise.

As the number of infections in Malaysia is on the decline, fuller and wider vaccination coverage will be needed as students below 12 years of age will need to return to school as well.

The minister of education has extended the current term to March 2022 to ensure that students who are resuming online learning will not be left behind when they return for the next stage.

Parents must also tackle mis-information about vaccination so their children can stay protected against the virus. This is to ensure that students themselves are safe within and beyond the school grounds.

SchoolAdvisor.my provides information on private and international schools, extra-curricular activities as well as other education-related topics in Malaysia.