The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) on Friday, March 26, announced that six (6) higher education institutions (HEIs) have partnered with their respective local government units (LGUs) by allowing their facilities to serve as vaccination centers during the first wave of vaccinations for coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
CHED Chairman J. Prospero E. De Vera III said that these HEIs can be used as vaccination sites after they “have retrofitted facilities” and were declared as “safe spaces.” The six HEIs are:
1. University of Santo Tomas Hospital (NCR)
2. Manila Central University Gymnasium (NCR)
3. St. Louis University Baguio Gymnasium (CAR)
4. De La Salle Medical Health Sciences Institute (Region 4)
5. Our Lady of Fatima University (NCR)
6. Central Philippine University (CPU)
Meanwhile, De Vera also encouraged the other HEIs to also “offer their facilities” as the country gears for expanded vaccination of senior citizens, essential workers, teachers and government personnel starting the 2nd quarter of the year.
“In return, we ask the LGUs to include the HEI faculty, staff and students who are assisting in the vaccination drive in their vaccination list so they can assist their LGUs,” De Vera said.
This, he added, is also the reason why President Duterte approved limited face-to-face classes - because the HEIs “can help” in the government’s vaccination program.
“As the country looks forward to receiving the next batch of millions of donated and procured vaccines in the 2nd quarter of the year, we must maximize the use of large alternative venues to be readily available so that the priority groups (essential workers, seniors, the indigents) could be inoculated without further delay,” De Vera noted.
Furthermore, De Vera said that CHED is currently preparing the Guidelines for Establishing Vaccination Centers in HEIs with inputs from the CHED Public Health Experts Group (PHEG).
“These guidelines will be discussed with the LGUs and IATF and can be used in ensuring more vaccination centers for the government,” he ended.