Highlighting the importance of vaccination against coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the Department of Education (DepEd) expressed full support over pediatric vaccination especially of children aged five to 11.
“We are passionately committed to this program of vaccination, especially for the children, since we believe that the future our learners is related to well-being, mental health, and physical health,” said Education Secretary Leonor Briones in a statement issued Monday, Feb. 14.
“We cannot achieve and move to new forms and ways of teaching unless our children are healthy,” she added.
DepEd, along with other government agencies and private organizations, also expressed their proactive support to the pediatric vaccination during the “RESBAKUNA KIDS: Vaccination Rollout for 5-11 years old” last week at the SM Megamall.
During the event, Briones emphasized that the vaccination drive for children is “vital” to the gradual reintroduction of face-to-face classes and the general welfare of Filipino learners.
Together with the other heads of agencies, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III administered the first dose of the vaccine during the said ceremonial rollout.
"This is another great leap towards our victory against COVID-19. With our children being vaccinated against the Coronavirus, we will have peace of mind that they will be safer and healthier under the new normal," President Rodrigo Roa Duterte said in his written message read by Duque.
The children who participated in the event received their first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued before the emergency use approval for the lower dosage of the said brand.
As part of its support to the vaccination of the younger age group, the DepEd also issued its Task Force COVID-19 Memorandum No. 606 stating its support to the Pediatric Vaccination of ages 5 to 11.
DepEd said that the issuance highlighted that the said vaccination drive would be an “essential componen” of the ongoing efforts to accelerate the safe nationwide expansion of face-to-face classes.
Briones explained that the vaccination of children against COVID-19 is closely related to the DepEd because “we want to include already the expanded face-to-face component of education in the country.”
The DTFC Memo No. 606 also indicated that learners who will be vaccinated during school days should be “excused” from attending classes.
“They will need to present their vaccination cards to their teacher,” DepEd said.
Moreover, DepEd noted that all of its personnel, especially concerned school health personnel and information officers, are “encouraged to support the vaccination drive and disseminate information to increase the confidence in immunization among children.”