VACCINATION drive in schools for Covid19 will continue as long as it is not conducted inside the classrooms.

Department of Health officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire made the clarification in the aftermath of the release Order No. 037 issued by the Department of Education.

The department order stated schools shall not be used as quarantine and/or isolation facilities or vaccination centers.

“So, hindi po titigil ang bakunahan sa mga eskwelahan, klinaklaro natin at kinaklaro din ng Department of Education. Ayaw lang natin na ‘yung mismong mga silid aralan ay hindi nagagamit sa pag-aaral ng mga bata,” Vergeire said during a press briefing.

“Nakausap natin si Undersecretary Epimaco Densing and he clarified the department order,” she added.

The DepEd wanted to avoid the possibility of classrooms and schools being unavailable now that learners are attending face-to-face classes.

Schools were used as quarantine facilities and vaccination sites at the onset of the pandemic.

Meanwhile, Vergeire said mobile vaccination in schools would encourage more students and parents to get vaccinated against Covid19.

“But this does not preclude the DepEd and the schools to set up vaccination sites within the premises of the school or we can also do mobile vaccinations so we can encourage more students and parents to be vaccinated,” Vergeire said.

The DepEd has been coordinating with the DOH to roll out mobile Covid19 vaccinations and organize counseling sessions among unvaccinated learners and teachers in schools.