The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has issued a Circular to officially inform its employees that vaccination against COVID-19 is mandatory. This was communicated via a circular dated the 16th of August, 2021.
The order comes following a report that revealed that just only 178,734 teachers have been vaccinated against the global coronavirus pandemic.
In addition, the report from the Commission indicates that out of the vaccinated individuals, 110,342 have received the full dose of COVID-19.
With 330,671 teachers currently under the Commission’s payroll, it means that 151,937 are yet to receive any COVID-19 vaccination jab.
The Circular is directed to all TSC Regional Directors, TSC County Directors, and Curriculum Support Officers and to all Heads of Institutions.
In the Circular, the Commission, via the TSC Chief Executive Officer Dr. Nancy Macharia, has informed teachers that is mandatory to go the COVID-19 jab as per Circular is under Reference number OP/CAB.1/12A dated the 5th of August 2021
The recorded cases have shown a trend of rising cases of COVID-19 infections in recent months across the country and this makes it crucial that the Commission responds promptly to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the Circular dated the 5th of August, 2021, the Commission had directed teachers to get vaccinated by the 23rd of August or face the daunting prospect of undefined consequences if they fail to do so.
Thanks to conspiracy theories and some religious beliefs there has been a low uptake of the COVID-19 jabs. The Head of Public Service, Joseph Kinyua even warned that those who flout the directive be punished.
The Government escalated the issue among workers to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
According to the Head of Public Service, all government workers will be prioritized first when it comes to vaccination against COVID-19.
With schools a possible super spreader and teachers themselves being the main victims so far, the government has implored all government workers, teachers included, to get vaccinated to prevent further cases and deaths.
Below is TSC’s Official Circular to all Heads of Schools.
COVID-19 CONTAINMENT MEASURES
Following the upsurge currently being witnessed in the positivity rate and increasing numbers of COVID-19 infections across the country, it is imperative that you mop up teachers and officers under your respective jurisdiction to get vaccinates as per the government’s directive vie circular Ref. No. OP/CAB.1/12/A dated 5ht August 2021.
(Attached for your attention)
You are further directed to bring to the attention of all officers and teachers the contents of the attached circular.
DR. NANCY NJERI MACHARIA
SECRETARY/CHIEF EXECUTIVE
The recent upsurge of new COVID-19 cases recorded across the country has culminated in many death with a recent case whereby a student of Arnesen’s High School died in a suspected COVID-19 case though it is yet to be proven so.
According to the parents of the student, the Form One learner might have succumbed to the novel coronavirus pandemic.
However, Stephen Kihara, the Uasin Gishu County Commissioner failed to confirm that the cause of death is COVID-19. The possible reason for not confirming the cause of death is because the learner has not yet undergone a post mortem.
“I am aware of the matter but I cannot confirm whether it was COVID-19 or not. We leave that to the professionals,” Kihara said in a statement to Nation.
The student is said to have visited the school’s medical department but was later found on his own in the school hall where he was nose bleeding with foam oozing from his mouth.
The learner was then rushed to the nearest hospital but he died following an unsuccessful attempt from medics to revive him.
Learners then threatened to go on strike over the issue raising notable tension. The school administrators resolved to close the school for an indefinite time while awaiting the resolution of the incident.
In another incident, Othaya Boys High School is in a mourning mood following the death of one of their learners called Katali Mutinda Kimathi.
The learner collapsed while going back to school on Tuesday the 27th of July after the July holiday was over.
The Principal of the school, Mr. Waititu EM revealed that the now-dead student was in Form Four at the school located in the Othaya constituency.
According to reports, a Good Samaritan rushed the learner was rushed to the Kenyatta National Hospital after collapsing.
When the boy was confirmed dead, his body was transferred to Consolata Nursing Home to undergo preservation.