PASIG CITY, (PIA) -- The Civil Service Commission (CSC) highly encourages all government employees and their families to get their COVID-19 booster shots to further increase the immunity protection of our country against the COVID-19 virus.

In an advisory, the CSC reiterated its policy (Memorandum Circular No. 16, s. 2021) allowing government employees to avail themselves of "excused absence" for absence from work on the day of inoculation (for the first and second dose and booster shots), as well as absence due to the required period of treatment/recuperation from any adverse effect following immunization or AEFI.

Meanwhile, employees may also file for special leave privilege (under the Omnibus Rules on Leave, as amended) when accompanying their children for COVID-19 vaccination.

The National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) reported that as of June 17, a total of 70,005,247 individuals, or 77.78 percent of the target population have completed their primary series.

Of the total, 14,704,514 have availed of the first booster shot while 648,555 have the second booster dose. (CSC/PIA-NCR)