The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) announced on Monday, Aug. 29, that college students will now be allowed to attend face-to-face classes regardless of their COVID-19 vaccination status.
CHED Chief Prospero “Popoy” De Vera said the decision was based on the vaccination programs the agency implemented in every higher education institution (HEI).
“This is a result of the aggressive school based vaccination program that started around September of 2020. We have continuously been urging our students, I have gone across the country to participate in the vaccination program,” De Vera continued.
According to CHED data, 77% of college students and 90% of HEI personnel have already completed their COVID-19 vaccines and booster shots.
“This decision was made upon consultation with our health experts, and looking at trends in other countries, and trends since November 2021,” de Vera said.
“It is an evolving process, so when you ask when did CHED actually decide on it, when we were sufficiently confident that the data on the ground, the vaccination rate, our health experts agree with us that’s the time we decided,” he added.
He assured that CHED will continue to intensify their school-based vaccination drive with the help of the Department of Health as soon as the face-to-face classes start. —Report from Kenneth Paciente/KC – gb
