CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)--Vaccinated or not, basic education classes will be open to every student.

Strongly supporting the conduct of face-to-face classes for all public and private institutions for basic education, the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease recently issued IATF Resolution No. 167-D (s. 2022) providing that COVID-19 vaccination shall not be made a requirement for a student to attend a full face-to-face class for basic education.

However, at the same time, the IATF also strongly encourages the public and private institutions for basic education to undertake COVID-19 vaccination programs for their learners.

With this, Region 10 Inter-agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (RIATF-MEID) Chair and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-10 Regional Director Arnel M. Agabe signifies its full support to the said resolution.

“As much as we want our face-to-face classes to be open for everyone, still, we are advocating for more vaccinated students as we put primary to their health as well,” Agabe said.

In the said IATF resolution, basic education schools are enjoined to allow the Department of Health (DOH), in coordination with their respective local government units, to facilitate the conduct of COVID-19 vaccination programs in their premises.

Agabe reiterated that students shall not be forced to be vaccinated. As such, it shall only be given to students with informed consent signed by their parent/guardian and the assent given by the learner pursuant to applicable DOH guidelines. (DILG-10/PIA-10)