DepEd Fully Supports the DOH’s Bakunahang Bayan for COVID-19
By VENUS D. PERO
The Department of Education (DepEd) desires to protect its high-risk teaching and non-teaching workers against the COVID-19 virus.
Article II, section 15 of the Philippine Constitution of 1987 states that “the State shall preserve and promote the people’s right to health and foster health consciousness among the people.” The Department of Education (DepEd) therefore issued DepEd Order No. 51, Section 2022, dated November 22, 2022, to support the Department of Health’s (DOH) Bakunahang Bayan, a nationwide program that will be held on December 7, 2022.
The COVID-19 immunization program is not mandatory and will remain voluntary for all school workers and students, per the directive. Individuals who choose not to be vaccinated or who decline a booster shall not be subject to prejudice. Further, health professionals should provide ongoing counseling and education to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to make an informed decision. All minors who volunteer to get vaccinated should have the approval of their parent or legal guardian. Social workers from the Department of Social Welfare and Development should be contacted by any minors who wish to be vaccinated but cannot obtain parental or legal guardian permission.
In addition, the following is ordered: All DepEd teaching and non-teaching personnel, including officials, employees, job order personnel, contracts of service personnel, and support staff, who will volunteer to be vaccinated or take booster shots during the period of Bakunahang Bayan on December 5 to 7, 2022, shall automatically be excused from absence on the day of their vaccination or booster, provided that: they should present to their respective heads of office a copy of their COVID-19 vaccination record card or any other acceptable proof of vaccination (which shall clearly indicate the date of vaccination, the name and signature of the administering doctor or health official, and the details of the latest vaccine availed).
Likewise, all learners who volunteer to be vaccinated during the aforesaid period shall be excused from attending their classes on the day of their vaccination, provided that they should present to their respective class adviser or school teacher a copy of their COVID-19 vaccination record card or any acceptable proof of vaccination (which shall clearly indicate the date of vaccination, the name and signature of the administering doctor or health official, and the details of the latest vaccine availed).
In the meantime, DOH staff or local municipal or city health officers in each municipality or city should compile reports on the inventory within and among students using the bit.ly/DepEdVaxTemplate in order to identify the remaining unvaccinated or unboost eligible students. No teaching or non-teaching personnel shall be obliged to collect, compile, encrypt, or maintain records of immunized and unimmunized students in their individual schools.
As a result, the Department of Education’s decision to provide full support to the DOH’s Bakunahang Bayan will greatly enhance the immunization rate of DepEd workers and students, as well as safeguard them from serious COVID-19 illnesses. ###
