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January 24, 2022 – The Department of Education (DepEd) has encouraged personnel and learners to participate in the continuous vaccination drive of the national government, which has expanded to the pediatric population.

“Vaccination is one of the essential keys towards protecting our communities and our children against the threats of COVID-19. With additional protection for our stakeholders, we can further implement our safe-return-to-schools initiatives while helping our economy recover,” Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones said.

“Together with our teachers and learners, DepEd will continue to be a part of our government’s whole-of-nation approach against COVID-19,” she added.

The Department has urged all field offices and schools to cooperate with their respective Local Government Units (LGUs) about the continuous vaccination drive for young children and education frontliners.

Based on the Department of Health (DOH) Circular No. 2021-0483, or the Interim Operational Guidelines on the COVID-19 Vaccination of the Rest of the Pediatric Population (ROPP) Ages 12-17 Years Old, ROPP ages 12-17 years old are allowed to receive COVID-19 vaccines starting last quarter of 2021.

Minors ages 12-17 years old who will join the vaccination need to provide documents to prove their filiation and age such as a Birth Certificate issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). Secondary documents are also accepted, given that it is accompanied by a valid government ID of parent and recipient. Moreover, parents must also sign an informed consent.

Furthermore, Secretary Briones encourages teachers and non-teaching personnel to take their booster shots once eligible.

“We are reminding our personnel and offices to not wait since local government units are already vaccinating and giving COVID-19 jabs to their constituents,” she said

Meanwhile, DepEd Task Force COVID-19 (DTFC) said that existing arrangements on the use of schools as vaccination sites will be maximized, and schools that were previously used as vaccination sites are highly encouraged to reopen for pediatric vaccination.

The Department also emphasized that personnel’s participation as members of vaccination teams is voluntary, and they must be provided with the support enumerated in the DepEd Memorandum 28, s. 2021, or the Comprehensive Guidance on the Participation of the Department of Education in the Implementation of the Philippine National Deployment and Vaccination Plan for COVID-19 Vaccines.

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