RIGA, July 14 (LETA) - The local government of Jelgava is not planning monetary incentives to motivate teachers to get vaccinated against Covid-19, Gunta Auza, head of the city's education administration, informed LETA. 

She said that the percentage of vaccinated teachers differs across Jelgava's schools. In some of them, the share of vaccinated teachers is in the range from 75 to 80 percent, but there are also schools where the percentage of vaccinated teachers is at around 50 percent, Auza said. 

At present, the local authority is not planning any targeted financial incentives to encourage teachers to get the jab. 

"The teachers are feeling anxiety because the government has not adopted rules the education sector will have to follow as in-person teaching resumes next school year. In each education institution there are teachers that say that they will not take the Covid-19 vaccine," Auza said. 

In her words, this will cause serious problems if the government adopts the rule that only vaccinated teachers can participate in the education process from September 15. 

As reported, Riga Mayor Martins Stakis (For/Progressives) said in an interview with the Latvian public radio on June 8 that schools in Riga with at least 80 percent of staff vaccinated against Covid-19 might receive monetary prizes from the Riga City Council.

He said that the Riga City Council might spend up to EUR 1.5 million in this initiative. The sum paid to schools with at least 80 percent of employees vaccination would reach EUR 7,500-10,000, depending on the size of the school. The sum could be spent as the education institution decides - for purchase of equipment or bonus payments to employees, said Stakis.