Extra Jab Needed From November For Full-day Classes

The Covid vaccination requirement for full-day classes in secondary schools is to be tightened from two jabs to three this November.

When secondary schools reopen on Thursday after the summer break, they can only hold half-day classes unless 90 percent of their students have had two Covid shots.

The government announced on Tuesday that this requirement will be increased to three shots from November.

Primary schools are only allowed to hold half-day classes, regardless of how many vaccine doses their children have received, while children at kindergartens can only attend in the morning or the afternoon but not both.

Meanwhile, the Education Bureau said it will collect data from schools every month on their vaccine take-up among staff and students, adding that those with high vaccination rates will be commended.

It also appealed to schools to encourage staff and students to test themselves for the virus on Tuesday and Wednesday, before Thursday's return to campus.