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April 22, 2021 – With the go-signal for vaccination of basic education frontliners, the Department of Education (DepEd) has called on its eligible personnel who belong to higher priority groups to get vaccinated already in their respective local government units (LGU) of residence or LGU of place of work.

In the issuance released by the DepEd Task Force COVID-19 (DTFC), the Department reminded all of its personnel who are part of higher priority groups, such as school health staff, senior citizens, and persons with comorbidities, that they can register already for vaccine shots ahead of the roll-out for the A4 priority category.

“We would like to encourage all of our personnel to coordinate with their local government units so they can be vaccinated against COVID-19. This will play a huge role in our bid for our learners’ return to school,” Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones said.

The largest government agency hopes to start vaccinating the rest of its teaching and non-teaching personnel by June 2021 after the IATF approved the appeal of Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones to adjust the vaccine prioritization for teaching and non-teaching personnel from category B1 to A4.

A4 group is next in line in the government vaccination priority list, after A1 (medical frontliners), A2 (senior citizens), and A3 (with comorbidities).

“Napakalaking jump nito para sa mga teachers, magandang magandang balita para sa lahat. Matagal na namin itong kinakausap at kinakampanya para masama ang teachers sa mauna na mababakunahan sa A-list at galing sa B,” Secretary Briones said.

Meanwhile, Secretary Briones also strongly appealed to DepEd personnel to rely on credible and official sources such as the Department of Health’s (DOH) and LGUs’ websites and social media accounts for accurate information about the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccines, and vaccination program.

“I am encouraging everyone to be proactive in learning about the vaccine and the vaccination program, and to make an informed choice about the matter,” she said, highlighting the education sector’s important role to be advocates for the vaccination.

Vaccine recipients are also requested to note their vaccination details, including the registration and the vaccination card for documentation and monitoring purposes within DepEd, and to strictly follow required health standards before, during, and after the immunization.

In its policy, DepEd will also work closely with the LGUs and concerned agencies to establish its own vaccination database. More information can be found in the DTFC Memo No. 372.

In a previous statement, the Department said that vaccination is a key component of any roadmap to the resumption of face-to-face classes, as reiterated by the President.

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