This year, exceptionally and without strike threats, the school year will open as a series.
This decision is an important expression of the "safe living alongside the corona" strategy, which is based on an outline that will provide security and safety for children and teaching staff.
This outline includes several components, including characterization of the vaccinated through rapid home tests for all students prior to the start of the school year; Issuance of a recovery certificate or vaccinator certificate in the case of persons aged 12 and over; Conducting classroom and non-zoom classes in red cities where more than 70% of students are vaccinated; Carrying out vaccinations in schools during school; And antigen tests for students exposed to a verified patient in the classroom, in order to prevent them from being isolated. The curriculum expresses social solidarity and mutual guarantee, which are central values in education.
The outline is possible to implement - and provided that all parties cooperate, including the teachers and teaching staff, some of whom have not been vaccinated. Educators and teachers should set a personal example for students and get vaccinated. Parents, for their part, need to be honest, follow the guidelines and not send sick children to schools. Students 12 and older need to be vaccinated to protect themselves and their families, but also the student’s grandfather who sits next to them in class and who can become infected, become seriously ill and even die. The government, for its part, should put its trust in citizens who will behave honestly and take care of the health of their children and the children of others, for there is no way to personally supervise anyone.
According to the Ministry of Health, the vaccines are effective and safe.
Out of about one million Israelis vaccinated with the third vaccine, about a week later only 88 became seriously ill.
On the other hand, all hospitalized young patients whose lungs have collapsed are not vaccinated.
The treatment of these patients is done by the most experienced medical staffs, often at the expense of treating other patients - including those who have also been vaccinated for solidary reasons.
Imagine the emotional and physical burden that this situation creates among the care teams.
At this critical time, when we are also dealing with preparations for the start of the school year as a series, it is clear that the key to returning to a normal life alongside the corona lies in vaccines.
The coming holidays fill our hearts with justified optimism.
If we all mobilize to keep the guidelines, get vaccinated and find mutual guarantee, we can spend time with grandparents at the holiday dinner.
The author is the deputy director of Sheba Medical Center, a member of the Magen Israel advisory team, and former director general of the Ministry of Health.