Around 730 college students received jabs of Moderna vaccine at the Tarlac State University gymnasium on Friday morning (November 19, 2021) during the Regional Simultaneous Vaccination Program for Tertiary Students (RSVP-TS) in Central Luzon.
Students from nine higher education Institutions in the Tarlac Province and some Tarlac-based students of Nueva Ecija HEIs were inoculated against COVID-19.
This simultaneous vaccination program of the Commission on Higher Education Regional Office III aims to contribute to the 80% herd immunity target of CHED Central Office. This is also done in preparation for the reopening of campuses for limited face-to-face classes by December 2021 according to CHED chairperson Dr. Prospero “Popoy” De Vera III.
“Ginagawa natin ito para siguraduhing ligtas ang pagbabalik ng mga estudyante at ng mga guro sa kanilang mga classroom. Mula ngayong Disyembre ay papayagan na natin nag pagbabalik sa limited face-to-face classes sa lahat ng degree programs sa mga pamantasan na nasa alert level 2 na inaayos na ang mga pasilidad para sa inyong kaligtasan,” Chair De Vera said.
According to CHEDRO III officer-in-charge Dr. Maria Teresita Semana, the Commission has noticed the hardships of programs with intensive laboratory work which prompted them to prioritize medical and health-related programs.
Dr. Semana also mentioned that CHED’s directive is to allow fully vaccinated students, faculty, and personnel to attend the expanded limited face-to-face classes in compliance with the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) guidelines. This led to the massive campaign that no student should be left behind in the vaccination program of the government.
Twenty HEIs from the seven provinces of Central Luzon were identified as vaccination centers of CHEDRO III including TSU. Tarlac Province HEIs coordinated with TSU and Tarlac Agricultural University for the safe and orderly conduct of vaccination.
TSU also served as a vaccination hub for an estimated 2,000 college students last October 23 while around 1,500 students received their jabs last November 2. Both batches received Moderna vaccines.
