The Department of Education (DepEd) expressed support for the vaccination of younger children against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

(ALI VICOY / MANILA BULLETIN)

Education Secretary Leonor Briones, in a phone interview, said that vaccination --- especially among younger children --- will help in the resumption of face to face classes in basic education.

“Children are used to vaccinations,” Briones said. While studies suggest that children have higher levels of resistance against COVID-19, she noted that the DepEd --- as part of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF-EID) --- does not “want to take any chances.”

In support of vaccinating younger children against COVID-19, Briones said that using schools as vaccination sites is a possibility.

“That is possible,” Briones said when asked if DepEd schools can be used as vaccination sites for the younger population. “We are coordinating with the Secretary Galvez ,” she added.

Expansion temporarily postponed

In light with the decision of the IATF to place Metro Manila under Alert Level 3, Briones said that the planned expansion of the limited face to face classes in more schools this year has been put on hold from Jan. 3 until Jan. 15.

“With the new IATF resolution, the IATF, particularly Secretary Galvez, is concerned because the students included in the pilot implementation are younger children,” Briones said.

In the pilot run, only younger students --- select Kindergarten and Grades 1 to 3 pupils --- were allowed to participate as recommended by pediatric experts.

Briones said that the government plans to inoculate children from five to 10 years old against COVID-19.

“They don’t want us to proceed unless we are sure that the children are safe,” she added.

In postponing the expansion of limited face to face classes, Briones said that the IATF expressed concern that the “younger children are not vaccinated.”

“There seems to be development in other countries that even the younger children are getting affected by this Omicron,” Briones said.

“Although Omicron is said to be milder, they want to be sure that the younger children are also protected,” she added.

READ:

https://mb.com.ph/2022/01/02/expansion-of-face-to-face-classes-on-hold-until-jan-15-deped/

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DepEd supports vaccination of younger children vs COVID-19