COVID TF, educ sector to intensify vaxx drive ahead of full F2F classes

The Davao City COVID Task Force, in coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), is intensifying the drive to vaccinate students against COVID-19 before all public schools return to full face-to-face classes on November 2.

COVID TF Spokesperson Dr. Michelle Schlosser, during the COVID-19 Alert program aired over the Davao City Disaster Radio on Wednesday, said their goal is inoculate 100 percent of the city’s student population before the return to full face-to-face classes.

“Actually, they fear that during that time na mag-face-to-face na tanan, dako’g chance na makakuha og infection ang ilang estudyante (when all are back to face-to-face classes, there is a big possibility that their students will be infected),” said Schlosser.

To prevent the spread of infection, Schlosser said the CHED, DepEd, and officials from schools with COVID cases had committed to conduct a series of school-based vaccinations with an intensified Information Education Campaign (IEC).

The education sector’s vaccination campaign will focus on reaching children ages 5 to 11 as a significant portion of this age group remain unvaccinated

“They will be conducting a series of school-based vaccination. They will couple this with IEC or Information Education Campaign, dili lang sa mga vaccinees nila na mga students, but they are hoping that they will also be cascading the same information sa mga parents sa mga vaccinees, labi na gyud kadtong 5 to 11 years old. Because even the Department of Education naga-admit sila na mubo gyud ilahang output for 5 to 11 years old (“They will be conducting a series of school-based vaccination. They will couple this with IEC or Information Education Campaign, not just for the vaccinees but they are hoping that they will also be cascading the same information to the parents of the vaccinees, especially 5 to 11 years old. Because even the Department of Education admits they have very low output for 5 to 11 years old),” Schlosser said.

The campaign will cover “vaccination safety, efficacy and benefits,” as well as the management protocols of COVID-19 cases in the event that one is detected in the school setting.

From October 2-8, Davao City logged 10 COVID-related deaths, six of which were unvaccinated cases. CIO