DOH to maintain jabbing in schools

THE Department of Health (DOH) on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, said its coronavirus disease 2022 (Covid-19) vaccination activities will remain present in selected schools despite the recent order of the Department of Education (DepEd).

According to DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire, the DepEd order does not totally prevent the government from holding vaccination activities in schools.

“This (order) does not preclude the Department of Education and the schools to set up vaccination sites within the premises of the schools,” said Vergeire in a press briefing on Friday, Sept. 2.

“Vaccination activities in schools won’t stop. We are clarifying that after clarifying with DepEd,” she added.

Vergeire explained that what the DepEd order is merely referring to is the prohibition of classrooms from being used as vaccination sites just like before.

“What we don’t want is for classrooms to not be used by students to learn (because of vaccination activities),” said the health official.

She said that maintaining jabbing activities in schools is crucial in increasing the Covid-19 vaccination coverage in the country.

“(This is so) we can encourage more of our students and their parents to get vaccinated,” said Vergeire.

Prior to the opening of School Year 2022-2023, the DOH announced that it would conduct Covid-19 vaccination activities in selected schools nationwide.

Under Order 037-2022, however, the DepEd declared that “schools shall not be used as quarantine and/or isolation facilities or vaccination centers”.