Catholic schools in the Diocese of Pasig in the national capital announced that most of its students have already been vaccinated against the coronavirus disease.
Father Daniel Estacio, superintendent of the Pasig Diocesan Schools System, said the diocese has partnered with the local governments of Pasig, Taguig, and Pateros in the vaccination of children.
“It’s part of the program of the [local government units] in preparation for the face-to-face classes,” said the priest, adding that most students in the diocese have already been vaccinated.
The diocese has also partnered with the Pasig Alliance of Private School Administrators to expedite the vaccinate drive.
Father Estacio expressed his gratitude to the local governments because of the continuing response to the need to protect children from the virus.
The city of Pasig has earlier announced that it plans to inoculate 59,000 children with ages between 12 and 17 years this month.
The national government, meanwhile, aims to start COVID-19 vaccination of minors five to 11 years old by January 2022.
Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said the plan, however, is dependent on the Food and Drug Administration’s emergency use approvals to vaccines for the use of children by the end of December.
Galvez said the government is aiming to finish inoculating children against COVID-19 in the first quarter of 2022 to coincide with the planned reopening of classes and to combat the threat of the new COVID-19 variant Omicron.
The Philippines so far is inoculating minors aged 12 to 17 years.
