EduMin: We have 460,000 pupils vaccinated against COVID-19

Education Minister Sorin Cimpeanu said on Friday that 460,000 pupils have been vaccinated against the novel coronavirus so far, and over 70% of the education staff have been immunised, Agerpres reports.

"More than 200,000 educational staff, representing more than 70% of the total number of educational staff, are vaccinated. It is the largest socio-professional category vaccinated. Two - we had 2,838 educational units on Monday with a 100% vaccination rate. Three - one week ago, at the end of last week, on Friday, we had 456,000 vaccinated pupils. Now we have 460,000 vaccinated pupils. (...) In education, employees and pupils understand better the importance of the vaccine than the national average population," the Minister told a press conference.

Cimpeanu stated that the parents reported more and more ophthalmological conditions generated by the online teaching of children.

"100% safety does not exist in Romania or in any other state of the world. It is a matter of risk management, a balanced and responsible management in which the gain is not only that of stopping the educational losses, but also of stopping and remedying socio-emotional disorders... Unfortunately, in recent days I have seen even extreme gestures of some young people, of some students that are certainly related to the pressure felt from the lack of socialisation because of online schooling. (...) Parents have reported more and more children's eye diseases caused by online teaching," the minister said.

Cimpeanu said that he worked with several health ministers, "better" with some, "less" with others, but this time "he has really found answers" at the Ministry of Health.