17 schools set up vaccination centers

AT least 17 public and private higher education institutions (HEIs) on Thursday have signified interest with the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) and the Union of the Local Authorities of the Philippines to establish additional vaccination centers inside their premises as the country pushes for expanded immunization in the coming months.

In the joint Zoom meeting last April 8, 2021, the following schools have offered their facilities to serve as vaccination sites of local government units (LGUs): Our Lady of Fatima University (OLFU), Valenzuela; Manila Central University; University of Perpetual Help System Dalta, Las Piñas Campus; De La Salle University, Dasmariñas; St. Louis University; Central Philippine University; West Visayas State University; OLFU, San Fernando, Pampanga; University of Baguio; Benguet State University; University of Cebu; University of Perpetual Help, Biñan Campus; OLFU, Quezon City; De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute; Notre Dame Kidapawan College; North Valley College Foundation; and Cotabato Medical Foundation.

CHEd Chairman J. Prospero de Vera 3rd said many of these HEIs have been approved to conduct limited face-to-face classes in their medical and allied health programs as approved by President Rodrigo Duterte last January.

“These HEIs have been inspected by the CHEd, the local Inter-Agency Task Force and LGUs, so we are sure that the proper health protocols, retrofitting of facilities and the requirements for safety are already being implemented by these universities. These HEIs also have big facilities like gymnasiums that can be used for vaccination.

They have the necessary health personnel who can assist in the vaccination drive,” said de Vera.

The concerned parties are expected to tap resources to fight the current pandemic.

This is in recognition that the current centers need to be expanded once the government’s vaccination rollout is in full swing.