The five reasons listed by the MoPH are:
1. Seven out of 10 children in Qatar aged 12 to 17 years have already received at least one vaccine dose and no major side effects have been reported.
2. Despite being at less risk of severe Covid-19 symptoms than older adults, children can still catch Covid-19 and develop complications, including long-Covid.
3. Unvaccinated children are at higher risk of catching Covid-19 and passing the virus on to more vulnerable family members.
4. The Delta variant, which is present in Qatar and most countries around the world, is highly transmissible and causes more severe symptoms than other strains.
5. The more the number of children who are fully vaccinated, the safer the school environment will be.
The advisory adds that the 16000 helpline is a free and confidential service to provide support for people experiencing stress and anxiety as a result of the current Covid-19 pandemic.
On Tuesday, the health authorities had provided some tips to support children as they returned to school. The advisory urged parents to help children feel confident about heading into the classroom and talk to them about what they are looking forward to and any concerns they may have. “Ensure your child knows what to expect at school with the Covid-19 safety measures, including what’s expected of them for face masks, social distancing and hand hygiene,” it stressed. “Get back into the school-day routine early, such as sleep routines and mealtimes. Planning appropriate school, homework and play times helps set expectations.”
Children sense if their parents are anxious, the advisory pointed out. “Stay calm and reassured; this will help prevent any anxiety from your child.” The Ministry of Education and Higher Education had recently announced its decision to adopt the blended education system for the 2021/2022 academic year, with rotation attendance system in place on campus for government schools starting from August 29 and for private schools and kindergartens according to their academic calendars.
