DepEd lays out guidance on the role of teaching, non-teaching personnel on COVID-19 vaccination

The Department of Education (DepEd) Task Force COVID-19 (DTFC) had issued guidance on the role of its teaching and non-teaching personnel based on their levels of participation on matters related to COVID-19 vaccination.

Memorandum no. 372, which was released by DepEd Undersecretary and DTFC Chairperson Alain Del Pascua last April 19, said that the health authorities and the Department of Health (DOH) have consistently emphasized that COVID-19 vaccination is one of the major strategies to complement the existing measures and practices to alleviate the spread and reduce morbidity and mortality of the coronavirus infection.

She also added that the government’s guidelines relating to COVID-19 vaccination had been laid out in the Philippine National Deployment and Vaccination Plan (NDVP) for COVID-19 vaccines and further elaborated in DOH issuances.

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Here are the three levels of participation in the ongoing implementation of NDVP as explained by Pascua:

1. First, as “recipients or beneficiaries” on a personal level or as qualified recipients of the vaccine.
2. Second, as members of the different bodies in the vaccination plan such as the task force in sub-task groups of the immunization program; part of the vaccination team as volunteer members of their respective local vaccination teams through the practice of their professions in relevant skills, like medical professionals, as educators or guidance counselors; and vaccination Operation Center (VOC) as members of the planning, campaign, management and technical team of the VOC at various levels of governance.
3. Third, as “champions for advocacy on vaccinations.” The DepEd Public Affairs Service (PAS) is working with the DOH on this initiative.
4. She noted that this issued comprehensive guidance is consistent with the pronouncements of Education Secretary Leonor Briones in previous meetings and activities related to the government’s vaccination program.

Pascua added that a separate memo of a program which is currently being planned will be issued soon. This DepEd Communications Plan will aim to increase and rally DepEd personnel to be champions for vaccinations, and will encourage everyone to be informed and get vaccinated.