Experts support ventilation and vaccination measures – from ABC News

After 18 months of on-and-off home learning, the Victorian government has outlined how it plans to keep schools open when kids start returning to the classroom.

It says the "Three Vs" — ventilation, vaccination, and vital COVID-safe steps — will slow transmission rates and reduce the risk to the broader community.

A paediatrician has described the measures as "fantastic", and says they will reduce the risks of COVID when children are back in classrooms.

So what's been announced, and more importantly, will it work?

What are the vaccination rules for schools?

All staff in schools and early childhood settings will need to get fully vaccinated before the end of November, unless they have a medical exemption.

The first dose is required by October 18, and the second by November 29.

Education Minister James Merlino said any staff who weren't vaccinated by those dates would not be able to work at schools.

"There are very clear public health reasons why it is a requirement for all staff to get vaccinated — it is the thing that will most protect staff, students and their families," he said.

It doesn't just apply to teachers. Support staff, admin workers, cleaners, and anyone else who works on-site needs to get vaccinated.

Masks will also remain mandatory for secondary school students and all adults, and encouraged for primary school kids.

Meredith Peace, president of the Australian Education Union Victoria, said while a small number of teachers "were not happy with the idea of required vaccinations", she believed the vast majority would get the jab.

"What [teachers have] said to us consistently over many months is, 'We want to get vaccinated, when will supply be made available so we can do that?'" she said.

"I'm confident large numbers of our members are already vaccinated either with their first or second dose, and hopefully … there is adequate supply for those who still need to get vaccinated before the required dates."

Fiona Russell, a paediatrician with the Murdoch Children's Research Institute in Melbourne, said high vaccination rates among adults was key.

"The main route of transmission in schools is between staff," Professor Russell said.

"But if a child gets infected, they can pass it to their parents … most transmission occurs in the home, so it's important for both staff and parents to be vaccinated."

What else is being done to make classrooms safe?

The government is also investing heavily in measures to improve ventilation, which reduces the risk of COVID transmission.

About 51,000 air purification devices will be rolled out to all government and low-fee Catholic schools in Victoria.

The rollout will begin in week one of term four, then progress over coming weeks and months.

"This is a very significant announcement and the first of its kind in Australia," Mr Merlino said.

All government and low-fee Catholic schools will also be eligible for funding to buy shade sails, to create more outdoor learning spaces and make it easier for classes to be conducted outdoors.

Mr Merlino said schools could apply for the shade sails grant on the School Building website before October 22.

This is all on top of measures already in place in schools, such as physical distancing, QR code check-ins for visitors, and mask-wearing.

A small trial to assess the feasibility of rapid antigen testing will also take place with schoolchildren and their families in some homes.

Will it actually make a difference?

There is no such thing as zero risk, Professor Russell said.

However, different layers of protection, such as vaccinations or improving ventilation, will all work together to significantly reduce the risks of COVID in schools.

Professor Russell said the ventilation measures were "fantastic" and a "terrific investment".

"Victoria is taking a very conservative approach," she said.

While the air purifiers would take a while to roll out, warmer weather meant simple measures like opening windows would help improve ventilation in the meantime, she said.

But if you're still a bit nervous about schools reopening, Professor Russell said there was reassuring data from overseas.

Looking at other countries with similar populations that have opened up with high vaccination levels, such as Ireland and Singapore, showed it was possible for schools to go back safely, she said.