A campaign for COVID-19 vaccination for university lecturers and students was launched on Wednesday.

The Afghan Minister of Higher Education Abbas Baseer said that the universities will not reopen unless the health of the students and the staff can be assured. 

Higher education officials called on the students to get their vaccination to help protect the health safety of their families as well as themselves.

“We are here to get our vaccine, because vaccine helps to prevent mortality,” said Hashmatullah, a student.

“We have been deprived of education for the past two months--online studies have not had good results, we are very glad to see our in-person education starting soon,” said Mohammad Reza, a student.

“Those people who have concerns about side effects, they must be confident that the vaccine does not have any negative effect,” said Sediq, a student.

“Students without vaccinations will be deprived of lodging, students who have no vaccination cards will not be allowed to enter class,” said Minister Baseer.

Higher education officials said that 450,000 students should be vaccinated in the next few days.

60,000 students have so far received their vaccine shots.