Caretaker Minister of Education, Tarek Majzoub, and Caretaker Health Minister, Hamad Hassan, on Monday launched a vaccination campaign to immunize secondary school teachers in  public and private schools against the Coronavirus disease using the AstraZeneca vaccine.

In a ceremony that was held at the Lebanese Canadian Hospital in Sin El Fil – Horsh Tabet in the presence of senior health and academic figures, the Health Minister delivered a word in which he made clear that the vaccination campaign had been launched thanks to the joint efforts of the health, technical, and scientific committees at the Ministry of Health, as well as those of the national committee that had prepared the vaccination plan, and the executive committee.

“There are indicators that the national vaccination campaign has begun to show positive results, which we hope will reduce the mortality rate and the intensive care beds occupancy rate,” Hassan said.

He disclosed that a new vaccination center has been added to the other 17 centers, where the AstraZeneca vaccine is being administered. He also noted that the turnout rate was “very good”.

The Minister then asked of citizens not to fall victims to the rumors that were being spread against the AstraZeneca vaccine, deeming them strictly commercial.

“The Ministry of Health has reserved seven million AstraZeneca vaccines. (…) It has also protected the Lebanese people and society’s right to vaccination in light of the stifling economic conditions, which have not affected the ministry’s plan. Notwithstanding, we were the first to reserve additional quantities amid this wild storm,” Hassan said.

The Health Minister went on to encourage citizens to register on COVAX platform, confirming that everyone who has registered, will receive an invitation to get vaccinated. He reaffirmed the efficacy of all the vaccines that have been approved by the Ministry of Health, including Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Sputnik, and Sinopharm.

“According to the scientific committee, all vaccines provide protection, quality, effectiveness, and safety, as all vaccines are at one level,” he affirmed.

In turn, the Minister of Education said that this vaccination campaign for secondary school teachers would be followed by another that targeted official certificate teachers, as well as those of vocational and technical education, general education, and other classes.

“Today, we are taking the first step towards a safe return to blended learning, gradually,” Majzoub said, hoping that this step paves the way for restoring the life cycle of the educational sector.

“I call on all colleagues to join the safe return to school campaign by obtaining the vaccine,” the education Minister said as addressing academics, hoping that this will ensure a safe school environment.

“This step will also allow us to restore an atmosphere of safe blended learning to administer official examinations and to preserve our official certificate examinations, which we are proud of,” the Education Minister added.