THE DEPARTMENT of Education and the National Task Force Against Covid19 agreed to accelerate the vaccination of teaching and non-teaching personnel as the country starts to reopen schools.

DepEd Planning Services Director Roger Masapol said that the vaccination of teachers and school staff will be divided into three phases.

He said they will start the vaccination in the 59 schools that were initially approved by the Department of Health for the pilot limited in-person classes as well as for those schools nominated in the National Capital Region.

In the second phase, the inoculation will be expanded to the rest of 638 schools nominated by the DepEd’s regional offices.

The third phase of the vaccination will include public and private schools nationwide, the DepEd official said.

To carry out the plan, Masapol said the department needs to submit to the NTF the list of unvaccinated teachers and school personnel.

DepEd will also coordinate with the NTF and local government units for identification of possible vaccination sites.

The agency will similarly provide manpower support to LGU during vaccination, Masapol added.

Earlier, DepEd reported that almost 60 percent of teaching and non-teaching personnel had been given Covid19 jabs.