Only less than half of older people have been vaccinated against COVID-19, police officers are lining up, and distance teachers are already being vaccinated: why?

The decision on the vaccination of graduates, teachers and other employees of the education system in order of priority was taken by the Government on March 24.

Subsequently, the Minister of Health Arūnas Dulkys modified the vaccination order of priority groups.

According to him, members of the educational community should be vaccinated to people over 65, but before those who perform vital functions of the state such as firefighters, policemen, customs officials.

Also, people under 65 with chronic diseases.

According to the Ministry of Health (SAM), just under half of all older adults are currently vaccinated:

• over 80 years: 22.7 percent. vaccinated twice, 16.9 percent. – A generation;

• 70-79 years: 11.4% vaccinated twice, 30.3 – once;

• 60-69 years: 7.4% vaccinated twice, 11.9 percent. A generation.

“The goal is to vaccinate at least 70%. population of the country, a similar indicator is expected in the group of older people ”, said SAM.

Vaccination rates vary between municipalities

If all or at least most older adults have not been vaccinated, why move on to vaccinating educational staff and graduates?

The ministry said this happens when older people refuse to get vaccinated.

When there is a decrease in activity in a group of older people, vaccination facilities may invite people from the group below.

“Older people, like other people, can choose the vaccine. Therefore, if the vaccine requested by an older adult is not available at the vaccination center at the proposed time, they are not being vaccinated and are waiting for the delivery of another vaccine. When there is a decrease in activity in a group of older people, vaccination institutions can invite people from the group below, ”said the response. 15 minutes.

In addition, the ministry noted that municipal vaccination at different rates:

“Municipal vaccination rates are different. If a municipality classifies a priority group more quickly, it can move on to the next priority group.”

When asked why it was decided to exclude and vaccinate employees in the education system earlier, SAM said that it was necessary to return to learning in classrooms and classrooms.

“Educators have been added to the list of priority groups to reconnect with education more quickly,” said the response.

I.Šimonytė: the vaccination schedule has been changed due to graduates

A similar reason was mentioned by Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė. According to her, the list of priority groups has been modified to vaccinate graduates, as well as their teachers, so that everyone can return to classes.

“We hope that the graduate professors can start working directly very soon. Basically, due to the graduate teachers, that line was the one that changed the most, so that the graduates could return, ”he told reporters from Seimas.

To avoid problems, according to the prime minister, the list includes all employees, not just those who teach graduates.

“It is better to vaccinate wholesale institutions, all at once, so that it is not necessary to explain who has the right, who does not have the right,” said I. Šimonytė.

He noted that vaccines will also be released soon, the issue is being addressed.

The issue of officials is being addressed and I think they will also be vaccinated in the near future.

“The issue of officials is being resolved and I think they will also get vaccinated in the near future, because we are starting to get really large amounts of vaccines starting this week. And now probably a bigger challenge will not be somewhere down the line. of priority, but on how to guess how to vaccinate vaccines as soon as possible in the shortest time possible, ”said I. Šimonytė.

KTU initially plans to vaccinate 1,000 employees

Teachers and employees at Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) will soon start getting vaccinated against COVID-19.

“Today, all KTU teachers and employees have already been invited to register for the vaccination list; last week we sent them an invitation by email.” 15 minutes KTU media representative Mantas Lapinskas commented on Tuesday.

He said the first list of community members invited for vaccination should be delivered to the Kaunas City Polyclinic in KTU on Tuesday evening.

“We plan to have around 1,000 people in this group; we provided those numbers in December, collecting data for the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports,” said M. Lapinskas.

According to him, the list will include employees who have many contacts: teachers, service personnel.

And it is not clear when exactly they will be vaccinated.

When this first group is invited to be vaccinated it will not depend on us.

“When this first group is invited to be vaccinated it will not depend on us,” said M. Lapinskas.

You want to get back in touch with work

KTU’s main goal is to vaccinate all employees – 2,031 people as soon as possible, he said.

But it is not yet known whether this will allow us to get back to work in contact.

“It is still difficult to answer the question of how live conferences with vaccinated teachers and unvaccinated students will be carried out. We will await the recommendations of the ministry,” said a KTU representative.

He expressed the hope that students will also be vaccinated as a matter of priority: “We want to get back to live lectures asap, so after vaccinating teachers and staff, we plan to start vaccinating our students as well. We hope they will also be identified as a priority vaccination group. “

M. Lapinskas thanked the Kaunas City Municipality for creating a website where it is possible to register for vaccination.

“This is an example of how vaccination should be planned,” he said.

70% have already received the first vaccination. Vytautas Magnus University Employees

Teachers and other employees of Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) have already been invited to get vaccinated. Of the more than a thousand of them, 70 percent. did.

“About 70 percent got vaccinated Monday. Some will be vaccinated later for a variety of personal reasons.

If you do not get vaccinated on Monday because you did not provide the data on time or you changed your mind, we will provide you with the data in the next few days. 15 minutes commented Simona Pilkienė, Vice-Rector for Studies of the Vytautas Magnus University.

According to her, few people do not want to be vaccinated: “As in any community, there are all kinds of opinions and points of view, but that is a small part.”

S.Pilkienė doubted whether he would be able to contact work again after vaccinating the teachers.

“It is still difficult to decide on the universal return to hearing. Workers will only be vaccinated with the second dose of the vaccine at the end of June, ”he said.

Ask to vaccinate at least some students in order of priority

The VMU representative, like the KTU representative, expressed the hope that students, or at least some of them, could be vaccinated as a priority issue in the near future.

“Our seniors and those whose studies require practical classes are very interested. In order to ensure student safety, individual hands-on classes are planned for seniors, the completion of which requires contact.

We have submitted a request to the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports to include pedagogical students in the priority vaccination group, who must undertake internships in educational institutions.

If graduates are vaccinated, it may also be college students’ turn.

If the graduates are vaccinated, it may be the turn of the university graduates, because it is also very important for them to complete their studies ”, commented the vice-rector for Studies at VMU.

VU hopes vaccination will start soon

Vilnius University (VU) staff are still waiting for invitations to get vaccinated.

“Vaccination of VU employees will be able to start as soon as the Vilnius city municipality and health care institutions provide such an opportunity. We hope to begin the process in the next few days. ” 15 minutes commented Ervinas Spūdys, Head of the Department of Communication and Marketing of this high school.

“All VU employees will be gradually invited to get vaccinated,” he added.

When asked if VU will try to get back to work with students after vaccinating teachers, E. Spūdys said he would like to do so, but is planning to continue working remotely for the time being.

“We would like to return to the contact study process as soon as possible, but currently all study activities are planned to be carried out remotely at least until May 1,” said the representative of the institution.

Various settings are possible for the award ceremony

15 minutes It was also asked how high schools are going to organize graduation ceremonies.

According to E.Spūdis, VU has two scenarios for this: with a live ceremony or a remote one.

“We are ready to run two scenarios for the diploma celebrations, depending on the epidemiological situation and the vaccination rate.

We would be happy if we could organize a live diploma celebration in open spaces.

We would be happy if we could organize a live diploma celebration outdoors, as we did last summer with special security requirements, but we cannot rule out the possibility of a remote virtual ceremony, as we did in the winter, ”he commented.

VMU also indicated that several paths are possible.

“We have various scenarios, but it will depend on the quarantine requirements and the decisions of the operations manager in effect at the time,” said S.Pilkienė, Vice Chancellor for Studies at VMU.

KTU plans to host both the diploma defenses and the award ceremony remotely.

“We really don’t want to risk the health of our students, so this year we plan to do everything remotely,” said M. Lapinskas, a media representative from the high school.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, high schools are organizing distance learning.

So far, graduates are doing the same, but are expected to return to class as soon as they are vaccinated.