The Tribune

By EARYEL BOWLEG

Tribune Staff Reporter

ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

EDUCATION director Dominique McCartney-Russell said immunisation requirements for students registering in the public school system were relaxed during the COVID-19 pandemic, but since last year, efforts have been made to return to normal protocols.

She said the relaxation of medical documentation requirements was due to overwhelmed medical practitioners and logistical challenges during COVID-19.

The immunisation policy requires parents to provide medical and immunisation information when registering their children for school, typically in grades one, seven, and ten.

Mrs McCartney-Russel’s comments came after Gina Rose, national coordinator of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), warned on Tuesday that The Bahamas is at risk of measles because the vaccination rate has dropped below the levels needed for herd immunity. Ms Rose said children under five are the most vulnerable.

In 2023, the vaccination rate was between 86 and 87 percent, falling under the 95 percent needed for widespread protection against diseases.

The education director said she is aware of three students who were not up to date with vaccinations.

However, she said officials do not deny students the right to register.

“Every student who presents themselves for registration, school-age student, they are provided a spot,” she said. “They are not denied. We do have some parents who have their children participate in homeschool, you know, and maybe for religious reasons they may not want their child immunised. They get to participate in the virtual platform, and so they have access to the opportunities utilising our virtual platform.”