The Senators expressed their disappointment to the Department of Education (DepEd) due to the agency’s seemingly slow progress of vaccination of its personnel against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
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Out of 970, 000 teaching and non-teaching personnel of the agency, Education Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan said that 580,000 or 57 percent have already been vaccinated during a Senate hearing on Wednesday, October 6.
Fifty-seven percent, to me, is not acceptable... As a parent, hindi ako papayag na babalik 'yong anak ko sa eskuwelahan na hindi ako sigurado na 'yong kaharap niya ay vaccinated,
Sen. Nancy Binay said.
She added that the DepEd should ensure all personnel who will participate in the pilot implementation of limited face-to-face classes have already been vaccinated against COVID-19.
She also suggested that a separate vaccination program for teachers, similar to the proposal made by the Teachers' Dignity Coalition back in July should be executed.
Education and health officials were also urged by Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, chair of the Senate basic education committee, to make sure that teachers are a priority in the COVID-19 vaccination program.
Meanwhile, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said earlier that the National COVID-19 Vaccination Operations Center have already ordered the fast-tracking of COVID-19 vaccinations for school personnel.
According to education and health officials, only personnel who were fully vaccinated will be allowed to join the pilot implementation in 120 schools that are in areas with low risk of COVID-19 infection.
DepEd eyes November 15, 2021 as the start of the pilot run.
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