Students

Immunizing studes

January 31, 2022 People's Tonight 348 views

THE government, through the Department of Health (DOH), is prioritizing the immunization of millions of basic education students, including those in the 5-11 age group.

Without doubt, inoculating the pediatric population is a welcome development in the government’s immunization program against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

We share the view of education and health authorities that vaccinating the youngsters is an effective strategy to end the pandemic, which has devastated the world economy.

The said vaccination program, which is set to start on Friday, February 4, is also part of government efforts to resume face-to-face (F2F) classes in public and private schools.

With its decision to expand the country’s vaccination program, the health department has given the outgoing administration a much-needed boost in the eyes of the public.

The six-year presidency of tough-talking President Duterte ends at 12 noon on June 30, 2022, leaving him and his administration with just five months to shore up the economy.

What is troubling is the fact that the outgoing Duterte government will have to do the “gigantic undertaking” without enough financial resources.

Note that the government’s revenue-generating agencies, notably the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Bureau of Customs, are adversely affected by the pandemic.

“Maraming negosyo ang hirap na hirap na dahil sa mga kaliwa’t-kanang restriction. Sa totoo lang, hanggang ngayon ay ang dami pang opisina ang sarado,” a trader lamented.

Thus, vaccinating the students in the 5-11 age group will be good for the nation and Filipino people in the long term.

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