The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and a public institution in Ilocos Norte province began mass immunization of their pupils against COVID-19 in preparation for the conduct of face-to-face classes on Monday, November 8, 2021.
According to Dr. Shirley Agrupis, Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) university president, during a speech in the ceremonial vaccination, the vaccination effort seeks 75% of the overall student body at the university. Additionally, she added that they are targeting only 3,000 students to achieve a 100% immunization rate.
Agrupis encouraged deans and student coordinators to aid the university in contacting unvaccinated students, stating that it is the “sole protection we can obtain to ensure the region’s education system remains functional.”
Ilocos Norte’s administration said on Saturday that the province would be placed on COVID-19 Alert Level 2 on Monday.
This means that under three circumstances, including a high percentage of vaccination among students and instructors, limited in-person sessions with a 50% capacity would already be permitted in the province.
According to Dr. Gretchen Ranada, immunization team leader at nearby Mariano Marcos Hospital, at least 27,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been distributed to university workers since June.
Read more: Schools now ready for limited in-person classes
