DepEd: 92% of teaching, non-teaching staff fully vaccinated vs. COVID-19

Ninety-two percent of teaching and non-teaching personnel have already completed their primary vaccine series against COVID-19, the Department of Education said on Sunday.

In a Super Radyo dzBB interview, DepEd spokesperson Atty. Michael Poa reiterated that they will be implementing a No Discrimination Policy in schools, allowing teachers and students to attend face-to-face classes despite their vaccination status.

“This is because ang national vaccination program ay hindi mandatory,” he said.

Citing DepEd’s records, Poa said that over 90% of teaching and non-teaching are now fully vaccinated. He said they will still get information on how many of this number have already received their booster doses.

DepEd Undersecretary Atty. Revsee Escobedo earlier announced that even unvaccinated teachers are now allowed to teach in classrooms during the resumption of face-to-face classes on August 22.

On the learners’ part, Poa reported on Friday that only 19% of them have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus disease.

He also credited the low figure on the government's COVID-19 vaccination program being non-mandatory.

He thus advised students, teachers, and parents that COVID-19 is still here, thus minimum public health standards should be followed at all times.

“Naatasan natin ang ating mga school officials na talagang strict tayo sa observance ng minimum health and safety standards natin,” Poa added.

(We have instructed our school officials that they must be strict in observing the minimum health and safety standards.)

DepEd has been coordinating with the Department of Health to roll out mobile COVID-19 vaccinations and organize counseling sessions among unvaccinated learners and teachers in schools. —KG, GMA News