February 14, 2022, PASIG CITY – The Department of Education (DepEd), along with other government agencies and private organizations, expressed their proactive support to the pediatric vaccination during the RESBAKUNA KIDS: Vaccination Rollout for 5-11 years old on Tuesday at SM Megamall.

Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones emphasized that the vaccination drive for children is vital to the gradual reintroduction of face-to-face classes and the general welfare of Filipino learners.

“We are passionately committed to this program of vaccination, especially for the children, since we believe that the future our learners is related to well-being, mental health, and physical health. We cannot achieve and move to new forms and ways of teaching unless our children are healthy,” Secretary Briones said.

Together with the other heads of agencies, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III administered the first dose of the vaccine during the said ceremonial rollout.

“This [Resbakuna Kids event] is another great leap towards our victory against COVID-19. With our children being vaccinated against the Coronavirus, we will have peace of mind that they will be safer and healthier under the new normal,” President Rodrigo Roa Duterte said in his written message read by Sec. Duque.

The children who participated in the event received their first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The Food and Drug Administration has issued before the emergency use approval for the lower dosage of the said brand.

In addition, the Department already issued the DepEd Task Force COVID-19 Memorandum No. 606, stating the agency’s support to the Pediatric Vaccination of ages 5 to 11.

The said issuance noted that the said vaccination drive would be an essential component of the ongoing efforts to accelerate the safe nationwide expansion of face-to-face classes.

“Now, how is this all related to this morning’s event? It is related because we want to include already the expanded face-to-face component of education in the country,” Sec. Briones noted.

The DTFC Memo No. 606 also indicated that learners who will be vaccinated during school days should be excused from attending classes. They will need to present their vaccination cards to their teachers.

Furthermore, all DepEd personnel, especially concerned school health personnel and information officers, are encouraged to support the vaccination drive and disseminate information to increase the confidence in immunization among children.

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