In preparation for the return to face-to-face classes next school year, parents in Quezon City have started bringing their minor children to the city’s designated coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccination sites to have them vaccinated against the dreaded disease.

In an interview with the Philippine News Agency, some parents of school-age children said having their kids vaccinated gives them peace of mind when in-person classes resume in November.

The Department of Education earlier said classes in public schools will begin on August 22, 2022 (Monday) with the option to hold in-person, blended, or full-distance learning but only until October 31. By November 2, in-person classes for all public and private schools will be mandatory nationwide.

“Starting November 2, 2022, all public and private schools shall have transitioned to 5 days in-person classes. After the said date, no school shall be allowed to implement purely distance learning or blended learning except for those that are implementing Alternative Delivery Modes as provided for in DO 21, s.2O19 entitled ‘Policy Guidelines on the K to 12 Basic Education Program” and DO O1 s.2022 entitled, “Revised Policy Guidelines on Homeschooling program,” Department Order (DO) 34, series of 2022, signed by Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte on July 11 reads.

Nathaniel Galut said that her 7-year-old daughter Azalea Bernadette has been locked inside their home for two years now, as with other children, due to the global pandemic.

However, he said that keeping children home-based has already taken its toll on young learners.

“Pag vaccinated sila, may extra protection, para makalabas-labas na din kasi medyo matagal nang na-stock yung mga bata sa bahay eh kawawa naman (The vaccine gives them extra protection, so they could start going out of the house because they have been indoors for so long and it’s a pity),” Galut said.

Antonio Hernandez expressed confidence that the Covid-19 vaccine will protect her 7-year-old daughter Paula from getting infected with the virus.

He also urged other parents, especially those who often go out to work, to bring their children to assigned Covid-19 vaccination sites.

“Para safe talaga kasi mag pe-face-to-face classes na eh, tapos lumalabas labas din ako, hindi ko masabi baka mahawa ko siya kaya mabuti na ang may bakuna (This is to make them safe especially that it will be a face-to-face classes soon, then I also go out often so I cannot tell, I may be the one to infect her so it is better that she is vaccinated),” he said.

Meanwhile, Stephanie Sy said that it was her and her husband’s mutual decision to have their 5-year-old son Matthew vaccinated against Covid-19.

She also appreciated the QC government for making their vaccination experience easy and convenient.

“With the growing cases pa rin until now, parang it seems like hindi talaga mawawala si Covid-19 (until now, it seems that Covid-19 will not be eliminated) totally in the next months,” Sy said.

As of Thursday, July 14, the QC government has already vaccinated a total of 391,209 minors, 5 to 17 years old, with their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.

The city government has already administered 6,161,528 Covid-19 vaccine doses.

Of the number, 2,527,245 are already fully vaccinated after receiving two doses of the Covid-19 jab, including those who have received the single-dose Janssen vaccine, while 1,096,112 booster doses have been administered by the city so far. (PNA)