Students, teachers urged: Get vaccinated vs COVID-19

CEBU, Philippines —  The Cebu City Health Department is calling on students, parents and teachers to get the anti-COVID vaccines ahead of the resumption of face-to-face classes.

Although not mandatory, but vaccinated individuals are a priority in the limited face-to-face classes and physical teaching. This is to ensure everyone’s safety against the dreaded disease.

“In preparation for the face-to-face classes, the City Health Department (CHD) is calling on students, teachers, and parents to have themselves vaccinated,” the Cebu City government announced through the Public Information Office (PIO) yesterday.

The city health department has started conducting in-school vaccination in 13 schools already conducting limited face-to-face classes. The vaccination was interrupted by the recent general elections.

The CHD is also planning to expand the in-school vaccination as 37 more public schools are scheduled to resume the physical classes within the remaining school days before the school year ends.

According to CHD, they are targeting at least 20 schools for the in-school vaccination. Instead of focusing the mountain barangays, the CHD is now mixing it with some schools in the urban areas.

So far, CHD is already done in Bacayan, Sirao, Luz, Banilad, Sinsin and Bitlang in the resumption of the school-based vaccination.

On May 23, CHD’s vaccination teams will be in Mangabon and Pahina Central. They will be in Cantipla and Tabunan Integrated Schools on May 24.

On May 25, they will be at DEOSIS, Bonbon Elementary and High School, and in Babag while Sibugay will have their turn on May 26. Pamutan Integrated School will host the vaccination on May 30 while Adlaon and Taptap on May 31.

The vaccinators will be in Banawa and Basak Elementary School on June 1. — Decemay Padilla, FPL (FREEMAN)