While it expressed “full support” to the “Bakunahang Bayan” drive which starts on Monday, Dec. 5, the Department of Education (DepED) reiterated that vaccination against Covid-19 remained voluntary among learners and its personnel.
In DepEd Order No. 051 series of 2022 signed by Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte, the department enjoined learners, personnel, parents, guardians, and other stakeholders to participate in “Bakunahang Bayan” of the Department of Health (DOH) scheduled until Dec. 7.
DepED said it “seeks to further protect” its high-risk teaching and non-teaching personnel from Covid-19 death with booster vaccinations and provide opportunities for its learners to make informed decisions on Covid-19 and vaccinations.
Nonetheless, DepED reiterated that the Covid-19 vaccination program is “not mandatory and will remain to be voluntary” for all school personnel and learners.
“There shall be no discrimination of individuals who choose not to get vaccinated or who refuse a booster,” DepED said.
However, DepED stressed that “continued counseling and education should be provided by health personnel to allow everyone the right to an informed decision.”
Moreover, DepED said that all minors who volunteer to be vaccinated should have the “consent of their parent or legal guardian.”
DepED noted that all minors who want to be vaccinated but cannot secure the consent of their parents or legal guardian should seek the assistance of social workers from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Private schools and community learning centers, as well as state/local universities and colleges (SUCs/LUCs), DepED said, have the “option to abide” by the provisions of the recently-issued order.
Starting Nov. 2, DepED has directed all public schools to implement the five days of face-to-face classes after the transition period from August to October.
Meanwhile, private schools and select public schools — particularly in areas affected by recent calamities — were allowed to continue the implementation of blended learning this school year.
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