17 colleges, universities to provide vaccination sites – CHED

There are 17 colleges and universities that have agreed to use their facilities as vaccination sites to help with the COVID-19 vaccination program conducted by the government.

Commission on Higher Education (CHED) chairperson Prospero de Vera III did not list such schools but said most of them are located in Metro Manila.

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He said the arrangement here depends on the negotiations between the colleges and universities and the local government unit (LGU) in their area.

For now, he said, their target is to finalize the talks this month because more vaccines against COVID-19 are expected to arrive in the country in May.

Apart from this, he said, 20 other colleges and universities have also expressed readiness to use their facilities as vaccination sites.

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Meanwhile, the Department of Education (DepEd) said there are 1,212 schools now in use as COVID-19 quarantine facilities in various parts of the country.

According to DepEd data, Eastern Visayas has the most schools used as quarantine facilities, at 422.

17 colleges, universities to provide vaccination sites – CHED

Only four schools are in use in the National Capital Region (NCR), which is considered the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in the country, based on the data.

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“Bakit mas marami sa ibang region kaysa sa NCR eh si NCR mataas ang surge? Mas marami ho kasing facilities dito ang ating mga hospitals at ang iba pang facility na ginagamit,” said Education Undersecretary Alain Pascua.

According to DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones, schools should be the last resort as quarantine facilities.

She said the Department of Health should first check whether the school is suitable for use as a quarantine facility, and local government units should focus on its use.

According to the secretary, the use of the school as both an  and vaccination sites should be avoided.

According to Dr. Emily Detaro, facility manager of MPNAG prioritizes the recovery of patients and the  of health care workers.

“Kahit magkakapitbahay kayo, hindi puwedeng magkwentuhan kasi puro positive na sila. Tapos pagdating naman sa safety ng staff, I see to it na every time pupunta doon, naka-PPE (personal protective equipment) sila,” said Detaro.