COVID-19 vaccination for teachers should be mandated —infectious disease expert

Infectious disease expert Dr. Rontgene Solante on Wednesday said there is a need to mandate COVID-19 vaccination for teachers amid the resumption of face-to-face classes on August 22. 

Solante issued the remark during the Palace briefing when asked if he would recommend to the government to protect students who are not yet allowed to receive booster shots.

“Isang bagay na gusto ko sana i-advocate, na sana ang mga guro naman, mga teachers will have a very high rate of immunization or vaccination. Kasi nakikita natin ngayon marami pang mga teachers ang hindi nagpapabakuna,” he said.

(One of the things I want to advocate is for teachers to have a very high rate of immunization or vaccination. This is because we see that many teachers are not yet vaccinated [against COVID-19].)

To build a wall of immunity in schools, teachers should set an example so students will also comply with the vaccination, Solante said.

“Maraming parents ang nangangamba na kapag papasok ang mga bata sa mga schools, ang mga teachers ay hindi bakunado (many parents are scared that when their kids go to school, the teachers aren’t vaccinated),” he said.

“So importante, we need to mandate vaccination also sa mga teachers, not only for the children (so it’s important, we need to mandate vaccination also for teachers, not only for the children),” he added.

He also urged compliance with minimum public health standards such as the wearing of face masks, hand washing, as well as ensuring proper ventilation in classrooms.

Meanwhile, Solante expressed hope that COVID-19 booster vaccines will be made available for adolescents aged 12 to 17.

“Ibig sabihin, if you want to level, in terms of lahat protektado in a population, then kasama dapat ‘yan hindi lang ‘yung 18 years old and above sa booster but also the adolescents.” he said.

(If you want to level, in terms of protection of the population, then boosters should not only be available for 18 years old and above but also adolescents.

“And hopefully, we can also plan for the booster also for the 5 to 11 years old. So that wall of immunity against any variant, especially for Omicron, na manatili sa population (will remain among the population),” he added.

Solante also said that it is important that the state of public emergency stays after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier said he is inclined not to lift it. —KG, GMA News