The Department of Education in Bicol (DepEd-5) announced on Monday that the vaccination rate for teaching and non-teaching personnel has reached 93 percent as the limited face-to-face classes in select private and public schools in the region started.

A total of 69,706 or 93 percent of the 73,304 eligible DepEd employees have received coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) jabs from their local government units, DepEd-5 Director Gilbert Sadsad said in a statement.

From the total, 66,296 are fully vaccinated while 3,410 are set for their second doses.

Another 3,874 are awaiting their vaccination schedules.

“The interim guidelines for the conduct of the limited face-to-face expressly provide that only vaccinated teachers may participate in the expanded phase. To ensure the protection of our learners and teachers, we still need to push for the 100 percent vaccination coverage of all eligible DepEd employees,“ Sadsad said.

He also reiterated support for the vaccination of children aged 5 to 11.

“The vaccination drive for children is vital to the gradual reintroduction of face-to-face classes and the general welfare of Bicolano learners,” he added.

As of Sunday, the Bicol Region has 3,763 active Covid-19 cases.

Only eight new infections were reported over the weekend – six in Camarines Sur and one each in Catanduanes and Sorsogon.

Department of Health-Bicol (DOH-5) is also preparing for the fourth round of the national vaccination days (Bayanihan, Bakunahan) on March 10 to 12.

According to the National Vaccination Operations Center, 104,630 Bicolanos are targeted for vaccination during the three-day activity, including 66,000 for booster doses.

“If we receive the vaccine, it doesn’t necessarily mean that we are not going to get the Covid-19 illness itself but rather, it will prevent the complications to progress to severe,” DOH-5 Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Units officer, Ken Nuyda, said in an interview. (PNA)