FACE-TO-FACE classes in all levels may resume in August this year, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said on Thursday.

During his visit in Zamboanga City Central School, Galvez emphasized that the ramped-up vaccination of children against Covid19 will be crucial in the safe reopening of schools nationwide.

He said that they are closely working with the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education to achieve a 100 percent vaccination coverage among teachers, students, and school personnel.

“Napaka-successful ng mga pilot projects sa face-to-face classes. Based sa report ni Sec. Liling Briones, walang infections o surge, meaning maganda ‘yung protocols at nasunod ang distancing at ventilation sa mga classroom,” Galvez said.

“Kaya kami nagpunta dito at pinili ang eskuwelahan, para ipakita na sama-sama kami ng DepEd at CHED para matuloy na ang face-to-face classes,” he added.

Earlier this week, DepEd said that the vaccination drive for children aged five to 11 is “vital to the gradual reintroduction of face-to-face classes and the general welfare of Filipino learners.”

“We are passionately committed to this program of vaccination, especially for the children, since we believe that the future of our learners is related to well-being, mental health, and physical health,” Briones said.

“We cannot achieve and move to new forms and ways of teaching unless our children are healthy,” she added.

The government aims to vaccinate more than 39.41 million youngsters aged 17 and below.