This post was originally published on ched.gov.ph
In an effort to fast-track the COVID-19 vaccination nationwide, the National COVID-19 Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) has again devoted three (3) days for vaccination activities around the country by launching the Bayanihan, Bakunahan National COVID-19 Vaccination Days Part IV on March 10-12, 2022. In particular, vaccination activities for individuals due to be given second doses and booster doses, Priority Group A2: Senior Citizens, and individuals between 12-17 years old, are to be given priority in the said National Vaccination Days.
In this light, the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease: National Task Force Against COVID-19 has directed the CHED to assist the National Government in the following:
- Ensure the administration of primary dose series and booster doses to all higher education sector employees and family members;
- Allow the usage of universities and facilities as vaccination sites;
- Advocate, conduct information drives, and disseminate communication materials to faculty members, family members of faculty members, school children, especially 12-17 years old children; and,
- Encourage school children to be vaccinated.
In view of the foregoing, the CHED and the Department of Health (DOH) has since issued its Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 2021-003, or the Interim Guidelines on the Voluntary Participation of Postgraduate / Undergraduate Interns, Clinical Clerks, and Fourth-Year Nursing Students in the COVID-19 Vaccine Deployment and Vaccination Program, on October 12, 2021. Furthermore, HEIs have since been enjoined to maximize the use of their campuses as vaccination sites for the said event, pursuant to the DOH Department Memorandum (DM) 2021-0116, or the Interim Guidelines on the Identification and Utilization of COVID-19 Vaccination Sites.
As such, Regional Offices are hereby directed to inform our Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) of the aforementioned JMC and DOH DM, as well as the National COVID-19 Vaccination Days set on March 10-12, 2022. As the participation of HEI personnel and students as volunteers and vaccinators will play an important role in the three-day event, HEIs are expected to communicate the same to their students and personnel.
Moreover, students and staff of HEIs, as well as our CHED personnel, who have not yet received their full dose or booster dose against COVID-19, are highly encouraged to get vaccinated on the said event.