Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 19) — The COVID-19 inoculation program for some 791,000 teachers and other school personnel nationwide may kickstart in June, according to Education Secretary Leonor Briones.
“Siguro mga June ito mag-umpisa kasi by that time, mag-start na ng enrollment. Marami ng activities ang mga eskwelahan, at kailangan protektado na ang mga teachers,” Briones said during a Malacañang briefing on Monday.
[Translation: It will probably begin this June, because by that time, the enrollment would have already started. Schools have a lot of activities, and teachers would have to be protected (from the coronavirus).]
Education personnel recently moved up the vaccine priority line, from the previous B1 category to A4 group. This means they now come after healthcare workers, senior citizens and persons with comorbidities.
Briones said the DepEd originally estimated at 1.2 million the teachers and support personnel who need to be vaccinated across the country. The number, however, was reduced after some employees who are at least 60 years old or who have comorbidities have been inoculated by their local governments.
She added that there is no need for teachers to register for the shots, since the department already has a prepared list.
Based on official data, around 1.27 million individuals nationwide have received COVID-19 immunization, the vast majority of whom are healthcare workers. Of this number, over 198,000 have already received their second dose.
