Vaccine. Bianchi: "No obligation for teachers but strong appeal"

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08 July 2021 "At present there is no hypothesis of obligation. We have no plans to do so, but there is a very strong call for collective solidarity. We make an appeal so that everyone can get vaccinated, precisely in the sense of collective solidarity" . Thus the Minister of Education Patrizio Bianchi, speaking to the Republic of Ideas in Bologna, regarding the vaccination obligation for school staff.

The minister then holds back on the possibility of exempting from the dad, in the event of outbreaks in the next school year, only vaccinated students, a proposal that has arrived in recent days by the Emilia-Romagna regional councilor Raffaele Donini. But the orientation of the ministry is not to tie the lessons in the presence to the vaccine. "No, on our part there is this approach at a national level - replies Bianchi to reporters - so if we want to be back in attendance, our invitation is that everyone be responsible and therefore take the opportunity offered to be vaccinated". As for another initiative by the Region, setting up mobile vaccination points in front of schools as early as September to encourage the vaccination of children aged 12 to 19, "this is in the availability of the Regions ", says the minister.

"The reopening is not a problem of the government but of everyone. The school is the place where we grow up and for this it must be present. But we must all take care of it" says Bianchi. To those who shouted "take care of it" from the audience, Bianchi replied: "I'm already taking care of it, I want you to take care of it too. It's not just a problem of the government - the minister reiterated nervously - I'm taking care of it day and night, since I arrived. I am committed to continue the battle. The CTS informs us that there are still health problems and we take them into account, but there are several responsibilities that we are balancing ".

"This is a battle that I am doing, but let's not forget that the pandemic is not over and we need more responsibility on the part of everyone - Bianchi reiterated - We must take the risk into consideration. We must be very careful". During the debate, animated by the students' questions, Anna, 19, wished that in the event of other restrictive measures "the school would be the last to close, after the bars and restaurants". "On this - replied the minister - I agree very much. But the school has more responsibility, because it is the place where you are more, where you live more".

"I welcome the recommendation to the Regions by Commissioner Francesco Figliuolo, who asked for preferential lanes for teachers in vaccination hubs. A request that is particularly relevant for those regions whose percentage of vaccinated professors is particularly low, such as Sicily and the autonomous provinces of Trento and Bolzano "underlines the Undersecretary for Education Barbara Floridia, Senator M5S. 

"However, it should be added that in any case at the national level the percentage of vaccinated teachers is very high, and far exceeds the 70% quota - he continues - We must further accelerate with vaccinations, but the reopening in presence in September is not in any a risky way, obviously maintaining safety measures especially for students under 12 for whom the vaccine does not yet exist. I invite all Italian teachers, especially those in areas where the percentage of vaccinated professors is particularly low, to proceed with vaccination - he concludes - In any case, I believe there are all the conditions for the school to restart in attendance in September: this is the message that is important to give to the school community and to Italian families ".