Fight Back Against the Covid 19 Virus in UAE Mass Vaccination Campaign. Hope that Families and Older Students will follow.

Background: Inspiring Schools, Across the UAE, Fight Back Against the Covid 19 Virus in Mass Vaccination Campaign.

School regulators and schools up and down the UAE are working around the clock to vaccinate their teachers, Principals and staff in a concerted and inspirational effort to make schools safe for students.

The move is part of an extraordinary drive across the UAE to enable every UAE resident and national above the age of 16 to access free vaccinations. Currently the UAE ranks second in the world for its speed in rolling out vaccinations.

Below we celebrate just some of those schools and Principals who have gone on the record to inspire older students and parents to join what many see as the most important single programme in UAE history to “make the difference,” save lives and ensure the safest possible learning environment for every child in all our schools.

More on the drive can be found here:

The “Who’s Who” of those leading the drive for schools to be vaccinated 2021. 

 

Knowledge and Human Development Authority

Dr. Abdulla Al Karam, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director General of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority receiving the first dose of the Pfizer-Biontech vaccination against Covid 19 in Dubai 2021.

“We are all in this together.'”

Dr. Abdulla Al Karam. Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director General of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority.

GEMS Education

Dino Varkey. Group Executive Director and Board Member. GEMS Education. Patron. The Varkey Foundation is a powerful supporter of vaccines in schools.

“GEMS is encouraging its staff to take the vaccine – and we are leading from the front. Together with GEMS principals from across our schools we are leading the “Choose to Vaccinate” campaign.

Today I rolled up my sleeve to receive the vaccination.”

Dino Varkey. Group Executive Director and Board Member. GEMS Education. Patron. The Varkey Foundation

GEMS FirstPoint School – The Villa, Dubai

Matthew Tompkins, Principal of GEMS FirstPoint School in Dubai, clutching his vaccination certificate having received the vaccine on 21st January 2021. 

“The vaccine is offering an additional layer of safety and security for our schools communities.

On behalf of the GEMS FirstPoint School family, I would like to thank the DHA and the medical teams across the UAE who are keeping us safe.”

Matthew Tompkins. Principal. GEMS FirstPoint School – The Villa, Dubai. 

Pearl Academy Abu Dhabi – An Aldar Academies’ School

Faculty from Aldar Academies’ Pearl Academy in Abu Dhabi receiving their vaccinations against the Covid 19 coronavirus in January 2021 

“Staff at The Pearl Academy have joined with the many people across our city choosing to be vaccinated today.

SEHA provided much appreciated on-site vaccinations for staff, with the second vaccination to follow in February.

#Choose to Vaccinate.”

Barbara Heaton. Principal. The Pearl Academy Abu Dhabi. An Aldar Academies’ School. 

Ambassador International Academy Dubai

James Lynch, Principal, Ambassador International Academy in Dubai, receives the Covid 19 vaccination on 11^th January 2021.

“On behalf of all the teachers and team at Ambassador International Academy in Dubai, we thank the UAE Government for providing everybody in the UAE with the opportunity to have a free COVID vaccine.”

James Lynch, Principal, Ambassador International Academy

Safa British School Dubai

Zara Harrington, Principal of Safa British School in Dubai, gets vaccinated against the Coronavirus Covid 19 virus in Dubai.

“So what did you do at the weekend? I was vaccinated in the to beat the virus!”

Zara Harrington. Principal. Safa British School Dubai. 

Springdales School Dubai

Dr. Brian Gray, Principal of Springdales School in Dubai, being vaccinated against Covid 19 with the Pfizer Biontech vaccine at the Al Barsha Clinic.

“I am supporting the UAE and everyone at Springdales School by getting the COVID vaccine ‘Dose 1.’

I will be back for dose 2 in three weeks exactly.

Let’s get all our school leaders and teachers vaccinated ASAP across the UAE.”

Dr. Brian Gray. Principal. Springdales School Dubai. 

The Arbor School Dubai

Brett Girven, Principal of the Arbor School in Dubai, being vaccinated against the Coronavirus Covid 19 in Dubai.

“Boom.

Thank you to The Government of the UAE and all at SEHA Health for providing the vaccine.

An amazing job to have a facility of that quality ready so quickly.

Painless and fuss free.

Let’s do this Dubai.”

Brett Girven. Principal. The Arbor School Dubai. 

Repton School Dubai

David Cook, Headmaster of Repton School Dubai; Kila Barber, Head of Repton Dubai Junior School; and, Tracy Crowder-Cloe, Head of Senior School Repton Dubai preparing to be vaccinated in Dubai on 22nd January 2021.

“I Visited the Grand Hyatt venue this morning to receive the first dose of Vaccine with Mrs Kila Barber and Mrs Tracy Crowder-Cloe from Repton School Dubai.

Arrangements were smooth and efficient.

The vaccine should help in the battle against Covid 19 – and help us keep the school open, and pupils and staff safe .”

David Cook. Headmaster. Repton School Dubai. 

Swiss International Scientific School in Dubai

Luke Osborne, Deputy Head of School at The Swiss International Scientific School in Dubai has been a powerful proponent of the vaccine programme to fight back against Covid 19.

“I’ve just got back from taking the first dose of the vaccine at the newly-opened centre dedicated to education staff. The process was swift, painless and exceptionally well-organized: I was in and out in under 45 minutes.

It feels great to be contributing to the herd immunity that we need to achieve together to overcome the virus.”

We are delighted to hear that the Covid-19 vaccination will now be offered to students aged 16+. This is certainly light at the end of the tunnel for the older secondary students of Dubai.

After a period of significant academic disruption for this cohort, it is a welcome move towards securing the safety and continuity of their final steps of secondary education. IB Diploma Programme students at SISD will now be able to focus fully and safely on their studies and gain access to their first choice university destinations. As a boarding school, we have a particularly special duty of care to our students, and this vaccination news will also offer our boarders, their parents and  boarding staff complete peace of mind within the residential community.”

Luke Osborne. Deputy Head of School. Swiss International Scientific School Dubai

“Covid-19 has turned our worlds upside down but the work of medical experts from all over the world to produce a number of effective vaccines in a record time has really showcased the best of human creativity and collaboration.

I feel blessed to be in a country where everyone, irrespective of financial status or social standing, can access the vaccination programme.

I had my first shot recently and, although it has not changed the level of caution I observe on a daily basis, the inner confidence I feel has done wonders for my personal wellbeing.

I am proud of my many fellow Fairgreen colleagues who have prioritized getting their vaccines.”

Graeme Scott, Director of Fairgreen International School

“On Monday, January 18^th, 2021 Al Muna Academy school teachers and staff received their COVID vaccine shots from a SEHA representative.

We extend our sincerest thanks to, and are so appreciative of, the UAE Government and Ministry of Health for providing the necessary support to vaccinate Al Muna’s willing staff.

At Al Muna Academy, we absolutely support all the efforts put in place to curb the spread of COVID-19.”

“Our leadership team have taken the bold move to be first in line for the vaccine.

We truly believe in family and community – and protecting our children and their parents is the best gift we can give them’

Giles Pruett. M.A.Ed. Executive Director. Arcadia School Dubai.

“Like many schools, teachers at The British School Al Khubairat risked their lives by being vaccinated in the initial vaccine trial. This was at a point none of us knew whether the vaccine would be successful, or what its results would be.

We did this because we wanted to support the UAE government, our parents and students in something that will save lives and ensure that all schools in the UAE have every opportunity to stay open and provide an outstanding standard of education for their students.

The phenomenal news is that I, and all my team at the British School of Al Khubairat, are healthy.

I think of all the brave BSAK teachers that took part as nothing less than heroes.”

Mark Leppard. MBE. Headmaster. The British School of Al Khubairat Abu Dhabi. 

“Like all the teachers at Hartland International School, I want to play the biggest part I can in making our schools across the UAE. Today I was vaccinated and I just now have to wait three weeks for the second and final dose.”

Sam Buse, Teacher of Humanities and Head of Zabeel House, Hartland International School Dubai

Al Ain Academy

Teachers at Al Ain Academy being vaccinated against Covid 19 with the Sinopharm vaccine.

“Our heartfelt thanks and praise to the leadership of the UAE government for facilitating the vaccination service for workers in the education sector in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi  and Al Ain.

This will contribute to stopping the spread of the Covid-19 virus.

Today, the first dose of the vaccine was taken by most of Al Ain Academy staff.

We wish passionately to be able to welcome our students back safely to our outstanding school as soon as possible.”

Noura M. Sharaf. Parent Relations Executive. Al Ain Academy. An Aldar Academies’ School. 

Bottom Line? The SchoolsCompared.com Verdict on Vaccinations 2021

A sincere thanks to all the schools, their Principals and teachers, who have joined in sharing their stories and photographs.

Their common cause is to inspire parents, older students above 16 and broader UAE society to embrace vaccinations as a means to fight back against Covid 19.

A common theme is that it matters less which vaccine is chosen, or offered, than being vaccinated itself.

The KHDA, early on in the pandemic, created a unifying call that “[w]e are all in this together.”

The hope today is that vaccines will now enable us, all together, to move beyond the endless cycles of lock downs, schools closures, whether full or partial, fear – and the heart-breaking loss of life, that have fundamentally changed all our lives.

The light at the end of the tunnel may well be in sight.

At stake is the promise of a return to a way of life in which, at least in part, the freedoms many of us once took so much for granted, including the freedom from worry, will once more fill our lives in the UAE.

In many ways, taking the decision to be vaccinated is to choose hope over despair.

Of course, even with vaccination, we must all remain vigilant with social distancing, hand washing and being caring and respectful of each other’s space and concerns. Few of us have not been impacted  by Covid 19 – and most of us have struggled at some point, often badly.

It will take time for each vaccine dose to bed-in.

We also, so importantly, need as much of the population of the UAE vaccinated as humanly possible in order to see the real impacts of a virus in retreat.

Our schools every day show their support for vaccination. They know that every single one of us that choose to be vaccinated makes a difference. A very, very big one.

The future really does start now….

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