Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 29) — The Commission on Higher Education on Monday noted an increase in COVID-19 vaccination rates in colleges and universities nationwide. However, it admitted the need to press on with vaccination to allow more limited face-to-face classes soon.
“The vaccination rates for faculty, staff, and students continue to increase but we need to push harder during the three-day vaccination drive to facilitate limited face-to-face classes,” CHED chairperson Prospero De Vera said in a statement.
Based on reports of 2,013 higher education institutions (HEI) as of Nov. 25, some 82% of faculty members and employees have received at least one dose, higher than the 72% recorded at the end of October.
CHED said the vaccination rate among HEI employees ranges from 70% and above. It added that school employee vaccination rate in Central Luzon, Cordillera Administrative Region, Eastern Visayas, and Davao Region are close to 90%.
Meanwhile, the vaccination rate among college students also increased from less than 30% to 40% due to CHED’s “aggressive” school-based vaccination drive, it added.
It said to date, 1,839,846 tertiary students have been vaccinated against COVID-19, with high vaccination rates recorded in Zamboanga Peninsula (70.1%), CAR (57.5%), and National Capital Region (54.2%).
De Vera noted COVID-19 vaccination in higher education has “gained momentum,” but added there should be a sense of urgency in the sector.
During the three-day nationwide vaccination from Nov. 29 to Dec. 1, the government targets to inoculate 211,208 students.
Limited face-to-face classes have already started in selected college programs. But the CHED earlier said only fully vaccinated students and employees are allowed inside campuses.
The Inter-Agency Task Force earlier approved the phased rollout of face-to-face classes for colleges and universities.
