The registration period runs until Friday. At the end of last week, all parents with school-age children over the age of twelve received a letter – with information about the CoV special vaccination campaign from September 20. The Salzburg Education Directorate sees vaccination as an “important building block for safe school operations” and also promises to make things easier for those who have been vaccinated.
“Parents and students perceive this as pressure”
Parents ‘representatives see this call as an affront, as Helmuth Schütz, the chairman of the state parents’ association for AHS and BHS, describes: “Vaccination is a private matter. And everyone who wants to be vaccinated will go this way with their children themselves. Parents perceive this as pressure that is being built up within the school community. We now have repeated feedback that questions are asked in the classes according to the motto: hands up, who of you has already been vaccinated? “
Education councilor rejects criticism
According to the law, schools have to be free of advertising and politics. Is pressure now being made through the back door? The CoV vaccination is a medical issue and not a political one, says Education State Councilor Daniela Gutschi (ÖVP): “Through various researches we have found that there are population groups where this registration is a hurdle. These can be language or technical barriers. We want to help people to get vaccinated as easily as possible. “
Head boy between the fronts?
The CoV vaccines from Moderna and Biontech-Pfizer are approved for children from twelve. From 14 the youngsters can decide for themselves. Are there conflicts with the parents inevitable? AHS state school spokesman Stijn Maas says there are groups who think the vaccination bus is great: “They are happy to accept it. And there are groups that see it more as pressure. I don’t divide my world into vaccinated and unvaccinated people. ”He wanted to represent all students:“ Absolutely indifferent to what their vaccination status is, ”says Maas.
Nominate those willing to be vaccinated
Pupils between the ages of 12 and 14 need the signature of their parents if they want to be vaccinated.
Schools can still nominate those willing to be vaccinated until Friday. Where and when the vaccination bus will be used should also be fixed on Friday.
Child and youth advocacy confirms “vaccination pressure”
Only a few days after starting school, the child and youth advocate confirms that the vaccination has been given. Many students are frustrated, demotivated and desperate. There are already shocking reports from children who were exposed to pressure from the teachers, says the Salzburg youth attorney Andrea Holz-Dahrenstaedt: “Specifically, young people are threatened if they do not get vaccinated, then this would have an influence on a poorer grade. These are isolated cases, the school has not been in operation for that long. But these cases are already open with us. “
Anxiety disorders, sleeping and eating disorders as well as depression have also increased. That is why the child and youth advocate appeals to all those involved to take the pressure off the schools as far as possible.
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