FOUR teacher-broadcasters of the Department of Education television received their first shot of Covid19 vaccine during the National Capital Region Plus 8 Commitment Ceremony and Symbolic Vaccination for the A4 priority group.

DepEd TV teacher-broadcasters Pamela Amor Villanueva, Antonio Maaghop Jr., Sharlene Grace Martin and John David Martin represented the basic education sector in the “VacciNATION: Resbakuna para sa A4” event at the SM Mall of Asia Central Atrium.

“Bilang isang guro, ang pagbabakuna ay dapat at tapat. Tapat sa sinumpaang tungkuling masiguro ang kaligtasan ng mga mag-aaral. Bilang ikalawang magulang na ibinibigay ang nararapat na karapatan ng bawat kabataan-edukasyon, kalusugan, impormasyon,” Villanueva said.

Martin said that getting vaccinated is the best way to stop the spread of Covid19. She is optimistic that inoculation will pave the way for the return of face-to-face classes.

“Sa aking mga kapwa guro, hayaan natin na maging halimbawa tayo sa pakikiisa sa hakbanging ito upang mapuksa ang virus. Magtiwala tayo na ito na nga ang solusyon na matagal na nating hinihintay,” she added.

Earlier, Secretary Leonor Briones appealed to the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases to include DepEd’s teaching and non-teaching personnel in the A4 priority list.

“With our teacher-broadcasters proudly getting their vaccines, I encourage our teachers and personnel to follow suit for the protection for their children, families, and community. The participation of the whole family of DepEd will significantly boost our plan to safely reopen our schools,” Briones said.

“We also call for their support in disseminating truthful and relevant information about vaccines to engage the public in making informed decisions to mitigate the public health situation,” the DepEd chief added.

The event was graced by Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Vaccine Czar Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr., Testing Czar Secretary Vince Dizon, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Benjamin ‘Benhur’ Abalos, Jr., DOH Health Promotions Board Director Beverly Ho, and executives from the private sector.

“Kaya naman isang pakiusap lang po sa lahat, magpabakuna tayo nang kumpleto at siguraduhin ang lahat ng nakatatanda at may sakit po sa inyong mga bahay, sa inyong mga tahanan at mababakunahan na rin, at sama sama tayong mag-Resbakuna tungo sa [pagpalakas at pagpapatatag ng] kalusugan ng sambayanang Pilipino. At [naniniwala] po [tayo na] ito ang susi para manumbalik ang normal na buhay sa buhay Pilipino,” Duque emphasized.