The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday conducted a symbolic vaccination of education frontliners in Universidad de Manila.

As part of the A4 priority group, five education frontliners composed of a janitor, security guard, full-time faculty, information and communications technology director, and employee from the registrar’s office were inoculated during the symbolic vaccination. This symbolic event is intended to help boost confidence in the vaccination program, as the government is set to inoculate the A4 priority population group as soon as the supply of vaccines is sufficient.

Like other frontliners in the education sector, the employees of Universidad de Manila continued to work to ensure that their students receive quality education despite the restrictions in place due to the pandemic.

“Ang ating simbolikong pagbabakuna ngayong araw ay ang aming tugon sa dedikasyon at serbisyo ng ating mga manggagawa sa sektor ng edukasyon. Tunay na marangal ang tungkuling ginagampanan ng ating frontliners sa sektor ng edukasyon, kaya’t bilang tugon dito ay nais naming tiyakin ang kanilang kaligtasan. Nawa’y patuloy nating paigtingin ang ating pagkilos tungo sa mas magandang kinabukasan ng ating bansa,” said Health Secretary Francisco Duque III.

The symbolic vaccination is part of the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) 27th Founding Anniversary Week. President Duterte signed Republic Act (RA) 11522 last February 2021 declaring the 18th of May as “National Higher Education Day” to commemorate the founding anniversary of the CHED.

As of May 15, the government has administered a total of 1.6 million doses of vaccines to the A1 priority group, 672,000 for the A2 priority group, and 647,000 for the A3 priority group. The A4 priority group earlier had a symbolic vaccination of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and minimum wage earners during Labor Day.

Meanwhile, the DOH urged the public to observe the minimum public health standards (MPHS) even after vaccination to curb the transmission of COVID-19. Everyone is urged to get the free vaccines when it’s their turn through their LGUs to get additional protection against COVID-19.