Vaccination rollout starts at DSSC
More than 100 students from Davao del Sur State College (DSSC) received their first dose of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on November 2, 2021 at DSSC Gymnasium in line with Sama-Samang Vaccination Program for Tertiary Students in Davao Region.
The said Vaccination Program is an inoculation program initiated by Commission on Higher Education-Region Office XI (CHED-XI) in partnership with Department of Health- Region XI (DOH-XI) with selected Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Davao Region as vaccination centers including DSSC.
During her visit to DSSC, Dr. Maricar R. Casquejo, CHED-XI Regional Director said that this vaccination drive aims to convince students to get vaccinated against COVID-19. She added that it is better if more students be vaccinated to prepare them in case the limited face-to-face classes will commence.
Among the students who received the first dose is Alyssa Manulad, 20, and a 2nd year Education student of DSSC.
“I was never hesitant to be vaccinated because I know that vaccines are effective. I want to be vaccinated in preparation for the face-to-face classes,” Manulad said.
She added that she encouraged her classmates to get vaccinated by sharing information, education, and communication (IEC) materials showing the benefits of vaccines against COVID-19.
In an interview, Dr. Augie E. Fuentes, DSSC President expressed her appreciation and gratitude to the services extended to students provided by health frontliners from Davao del Sur Provincial Hospital, Philippine Red Cross-Digos City Chapter, Provincial Health Office of Davao del Sur, and Barangay Health Workers of Barangay Matti, Digos City.
“It is our aim that students in our college are ready and should be fully-vaccinated, ready for their attendance in our limited face-to-face classes soon,” Dr. Fuentes said in an interview.
She also clarified that tertiary students from other HEIs in Davao del Sur will be served in the Vaccination Drive.
Meanwhile, Davao del Sur Governor Marc Douglas C. Cagas IV encouraged student-vaccinees to bring their family members to DSSC to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Governor Cagas visited DSSC together with Dr. Elpidio R. Monarca, Davao del Sur Provincial Hospital Vaccination Team Chairperson.
Starting November 3 until November 4, 2021, walk-in students from various private and public HEIs in Davao del Sur and their family members are welcome in the DSSC Vaccination Drive.
In a report from Manila Bulletin, CHED Chairman J. Prospero E. De Vera III said that 30 percent of students and 70 percent faculty have been vaccinated in universities and colleges nationwide. CHED is determined to vaccinate at least 80% of tertiary students by the end of November.
Sama-Samang Vaccination Program for Tertiary Students in Davao Region is pursuant to Memorandum from the Regional Director No. 96, series of 2021 issued by the Commission on Higher Education- Regional Office XI (CHED-XI) on October 25, 2021 on Vaccination of Students in Various HEIs- Vaccination Centers in Davao Region. (RW/DSSC-PAO)