Senior school students and staff usually facing a tense and stressful time with VCE exams approaching, but the effects of COVID-19 has added to that tension in 2021.
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In August the Andrews government set a target to vaccinate every Victorian year 12 student before exams start and to give a first dose to every child aged 12 or older by year's end.
On Wednesday, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews outlined the Victoria's intended path out of lockdown.
He said to ensure senior students sitting year 12 exams have certainty and are ready for exams, from Tuesday September 7 until Friday September 17 a priority vaccination program will be in place.
As part of this program, year 12 students will be given priority booking access at state-run clinics, as will their teachers and examiners.
Students and teachers will need to book an appointment, as walk ups are not available as part of this blitz.
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Students and teachers will be able to book one of these priority appointments from Monday September 6.
The Department of Health and the Department of Education will work directly with schools, and students and parents will receive the advice on how to arrange a booking through their schools.
The nearest state run clinics to Stawell are at the Horsham Community Clinic and with East Grampians Health Service, Ararat.
Stawell Secondary College principal Carlos Lopez said he had been in contact with the Department of Education about how vaccinations will affect his students.
Mr Lopez said he has received an email from the Department which clearly states "student and staff have got the eligibility for vaccination and students are strongly encouraged to make the appointment to access the vaccines".
There is no mention of any mandates.
"In terms of communication the Department has advised students, in particular senior students are advised to get vaccinated," Mr Lopez said.
"At a year 12 level there is a lot of anxiety and a lot of doubts and I think a lot of the students are choosing to get vaccinated in order to eliminate some of that anxiety.
"We have already had a number of our students go for their vaccine and overall a lot of them are taking up the opportunity.
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"This latest lockdown has taken our regional students by surprise and the fact the decision was made over the weekend has made a lot of our students reflect on the benefits of being vaccinated.
"It is a way of gaining control. At least if we are vaccinated then that is one less thing that we can worry about."
At this stage, the VCAA has not made any changes to the timing of the VCE exams in 2021.
VCE exams are scheduled to start with Languages examinations oral component on Monday, October 4.
A day after the government made the Pfizer vaccine available to Victorians aged 16 to 39, state Education Minister James Merlino said he wanted senior students fully vaccinated by the time exams begin on October 4.
There are roughly 62,000 year 12 students enrolled in Victorian schools.
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