Austrian authorities have announced a lockdown for around two million people who have not been fully vaccinated against Covid-19. This resources pack includes an article from The Week Junior magazine, along with a sheet of activities designed to get children thinking, talking and writing about what the story means to them.
Debate
The Covid-19 pandemic has caused untold misery around the world. However, vaccinations have been available for most of this year. So, isn’t it entirely fair that those who have chosen not to be vaccinated should be made to stay indoors, away from others? Society depends upon people following the rules, which includes not harming others. Or is this lockdown in Austria a terrible restriction of people’s freedoms? Shouldn’t we have the right to refuse vaccinations, no matter how safe the experts claim they are? What do you think?
Writing challenges
Imagine you are someone in Austria who is in lockdown because you refused to be vaccinated. Write a letter to a penpal in the UK explaining how you feel.
Or
“Someone who refuses vaccinations is like a fly repeatedly bashing itself agains a closed window when there is an open one nearby.” Write a persuasive text explaining whether you agree or disagree with this statement.
Investigate
Name and briefly describe five dangerous diseases for which we now have effective vaccines.
Find the entire series of Topical Tuesday resources to download here.
What is The Week Junior?
The Week Junior magazine looks at current affairs and helps children make sense of the world, provides context and clarity to complex issues, improves general knowledge and encourages discussion and debate.
To find out more about The Week Junior and to download its free resources, please go to https://schools.theweekjunior.co.uk.