As it continues to monitor the vaccination rate of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) nationwide, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) observed that the supply of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines in various areas largely affects the status of their respective vaccination programs.
“Ang napansin natin, iyong mga lugar na medyo malayo sa Metro Manila at medyo kapos ang mga vaccines, medyo mababa pa ang percentage ng nabakunahan na mga empleyado at mga estudyante (We noticed that in those areas that are far from Metro Manila and have a shortage of vaccines, the percentage of vaccinated employees and students is still relatively low),” CHED Chairman Popoy De Vera said in a virtual press briefing on Oct. 11.
De Vera shared that in the previous weeks, HEIs started to submit reports on their vaccination program.
Citing a report as of Oct. 6, De Vera said that 73 percent of higher education personnel in 1,488 universities and colleges nationwide are already vaccinated against COVID-19.
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2021/10/12/ched-73-of-higher-education-personnel-vaccinated-vs-covid-19/
In Metro Manila, De Vera said that there are some schools with high vaccination rates. PhilSCA in Pasay City, for instance, has 82 percent vaccination rate among its faculty members while 78 percent of its administrative staff are already vaccinated.
HEIs in other areas like in Zamboanga also have high vaccination rates, De Vera added.
While there are HEIs in various areas with high vaccination rates, there are also universities and colleges that have low vaccination output among its faculty, staff and students.
In Aklan State University for example, De Vera said that 79 percent of students and faculty are not yet vaccinated.
In Palawan State University, 66 percent of the students are yet to receive COVID-19 jabs while in University of Eastern Philippines in Samar, the vaccination across campuses is only between 50 to 72 percent.
In Davao de Oro State College, De Vera said that only 26 percent of the students and faculty are vaccinated.
“Medyo mababa kasi siguro kulang pa ang supplies sa mga lugar na iyan pero dahil alam na natin kung ano ang vaccination rate nila at inutusan natin ang mga pamantasan na makipag-ugnayan sa kanilang mga local governments, pagdating ng mas maraming bakuna ay tataas na ang vaccination sa mga lugar na iyan (It's a bit low because maybe there is still a lack of supplies in those areas but since we already know what their vaccination rate is and we have instructed the universities to contact their local governments, when more vaccines come, the vaccination in those areas will increase,” he added.
To highlight the urgency of vaccination among students and other higher education frontliners, De Vera said a vaccination caravan will go to various areas nationwide.
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2021/10/12/ched-launches-covid-19-vaccination-caravan-for-tertiary-level/
De Vera said that the vaccination caravan and other initiatives of CHED are in line with the directive of President Duterte to make COVID-19 vaccination drive more aggressive as more COVID-19 vaccine supplies come in.