Students enrolled in the schools in Sharjah won’t need to undergo mandatory vaccination against COVID-19.
The emirate’s education regulator has said that those aged 12 and above instead will need to produce a negative Covid-19 PCR test result at the beginning of the academic term that starts in September. The Sharjah Private Education Authority (SPEA), however, urged parents to encourage their children to get the jab.
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In a circular issued by the authority, it has however said that education sector employees would need to get both doses of the vaccine and only those would be exempt who are not eligible to get the vaccine on medical grounds. These would need to get an exemption report issued by official authorities in the UAE and must get a PCR test done every week.
For the new employees, there is a grace period of two months to get vaccinated and all employees must present a negative PCR test result at the beginning of the school year.
The UAE Ministry of Education earlier stated that all students aged 16 years and over and teachers and staff mus be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 to enter schools.
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In Abu Dhabi, students aged 16 and above must be fully vaccinated to return to school however, if exempted from vaccination, the kids can access the school premises.
All students aged 12 and above, teachers and staff will be tested for COVID-19 every two weeks.
In Dubai, vaccination is not mandatory for students, however education sector employees, who are eligible but choose not to be vaccinated, must take a PCR test every seven days. (AW)