In support of the government’s national program against coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the Department of Education (DepEd) said that over 800 schools nationwide were tapped to serve as vaccination sites.
“Sa ngayon, batay sa ating datos, meron nang mga 841 schools na ginagamit o ginamit na para sa para sa ating regular vaccination program (So far, based on our data, there are about 841 schools that are or have been used for our regular vaccination program),” said DepEd Assistant Secretary Malcolm Garma during the “Laging Handa” public briefing on Friday, Jan. 28.
“Yan ay nadagdagan mula sa unang bilang na (that has increased from the first number of) 500 all over the country,” Garma explained.
For the vaccination of children aged five to 11 scheduled in February, DepEd also expressed willingness to coordinate with the Department of Health (DOH) and local government units (LGUs) should they need more schools to serve as vaccination sites.
“Itong darating na pagbabakuna sa 5 to 11, willing tayo makipag-ugnayan muli sa mga LGUs and DOH at sa ating national vaccination operations center kung kinakailangan pa na madagdagan yung paaralan na magamit na vaccination site (This upcoming vaccination for 5 to 11, we are willing to contact the LGUs and DOH and our national vaccination operations center again if it is necessary to add more schools to use as vaccination sites),” Garma said.
When it comes to using schools as vaccination sites, Garma said that DepEd has allowed the Regional Directors (RDs) and other field officials to coordinate with the LGUs.
“Hahayaan din natin ang ating mga RDs at superintendents to decide kung ilang personnel ang kaya nilang i-commit para makatulong especially yung mga medical and nursing personnel kung pwede silang makatulong dito sa effort na gagawin ng ating pamahalaan (We will also let our RDs and superintendents decide how many personnel they can commit, especially the medical and nursing personnel, if they can help in this government effort),” Garma said.
Meanwhile, Garma said that DepEd is also monitoring possible additional guidelines regarding the registration process of children aged five to 11.
“We’re also waiting for any additional guidance coming from DOH but so far, I think pareho lang naman halos (it’s almost the same),” he added.
Just like in the vaccination of children aged 12 to 17, Garma said that medical clearance for those who have comorbidity remains a primary requirement for the inoculation of the younger age group.
“Yung pagsama ng mga magulang or gurdian dun sa mga batang babakunahan at yung expression of approval ng ating mga batang babakunahan para sa 5 to 11 (Parents or guardian should accompany the children and the expression of approval children aged 5 to 11 should be there before they are vaccinated),” he added.
RELATED STORY:
https://mb.com.ph/2022/01/28/deped-fully-supports-covid-19-vaccination-for-children-aged-5-to-11/