Director of Health Services, Dr Pamela Smith-Lawrence says parents should use communication platforms such as WhatsApp to consent as government continues to vaccinate children in schools.

Speaking during a media briefing this week, SmithLawrence said information was shared on the platform that children will be vaccinated and there shall be no written consent. This follows complaints from parents about lack of consent from the government when it comes to vaccinating their children with the COVID-19 jab.

“Parents who didn’t wish for their children to be vaccinated would inform the school in person or through platforms like WhatsApp. For example, I have a WhatsApp group that I am in and parents should try that,” she said. Smith-Lawrence also said parents who do not wish their children to be vaccinated should inform the school through the social media platform. Smith-Lawrence also said there shall be a verbal consent from the parent to the school.

She said this was the agreement that was made during stakeholder consultations. “Through different consultations with our stakeholders and engagements with the school community like teachers, principals and parents, we agreed that for children below the age of 18 the ministry doesn’t give out written consent forms. Instead we agreed to use several through different platforms like PTA meetings and WhatsApp groups to give out consent,” she said.

Smith-Lawrence further indicated that everyone understands the critical need for the COVID-19 vaccine especially after going through different waves. “Globally COVID-19 vaccines have proven to be very effective in reducing the number of people who have severe infections, people who are hospitalised and even those who end up succumbing to the disease,” she highlighted.

Smith-Lawrence emphasised that vaccinations are considered as a public good therefore there is really no reason to seek consent. She said no other vaccine in Botswana needs consent because health education and promotion have taught everyone the importance of vaccines.

“We give lifesaving vaccines to prevent certain illnesses that can cause mortality in young children and every parent understands the critical need of lifesaving vaccines,” she further accentuated.

The government recently started vaccination of children and so far, more than 200,000 of those aged between 12 and 17 years have received at least one dose of the Pfizer vaccine. Two weeks ago, the Ministry of Health also started vaccination of children aged between 5 and 11 years, with the paediatric Pfizer vaccine. More than 35,000 of these have already received their first dose.