The Department of Education (DepEd) should prepare for the prolonged implementation of distance  learning as coronavirus disease (COVID-19) shots for children below 16 years old may not be available in the country until the summer of 2022.

AnaKalusugan Representative Michael Defensor said there was a high probability that the Philippines may not be able to implement extensive face-to-face classes in the school year of 2021-2022 since clinical trials on COVID-19 vaccines on younger children are just getting started abroad. 

“Vaccine developers overseas are still trying to assess the safety of their shots on three age groups of children. They are also trying to ascertain the appropriate dosage for each age group,” Defensor said in a statement. 

The vice chair of the House Committee on Welfare of Children also said that while some clinical trials on children aged 12 to 15 years old were already underway, trials on those aged five to 11 years old are just kicking off.

“Trials on children under five years old would be the last to be carried out,” he pointed out.

The lawmaker noted President Duterte, himself, has repeatedly disallowed the large-scale face-to-face classes in public and private elementary and high schools until a vaccine becomes available.

Defensor said the DepEd should identify those students who have previously dropped out, and encourage them to enroll next school year, while at the same time take the time to expand their delivery of online and modular learning schemes.

“We urge schools to improve and expand their delivery of online learning as well as modular and TV/radio-based instruction, with a view to prevent more dropouts and enrolling more students in the transition to the next school year,” he said.

“In fact, with the help of barangay officials, DepEd should identify those students who previously dropped out and then encourage them to enroll next school year,” he stressed. 

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has so far approved four vaccines for emergency use to prevent the spread of COVID0-19. 

These include Pfizer’s which may be injected on individuals aged 16 years and older, and Sinovac which the FDA initially recommended for use in individuals aged 18 to 59 years old, but has now allowed senior citizens to be inoculated with the China-made vaccine.

The FDA has also approved Gamaleya’s COVID-19 vaccine which may be used in individuals aged 18 years and older.

FDA, however, suspended the use of AstraZeneca’s vaccine, which was previously approved for use in individuals aged 18 years and older after reports of blood clots in other countries’ vaccine program.