More than half of students in Philippine colleges and universities have been vaccinated against COVID-19, according to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
In a statement Thursday night, CHED said the vaccination rate of tertiary students had reached 59.7 percent from 46 percent on Nov. 25.
This is equivalent to 2,456,667 vaccinated students out of a total of 4,115,988 tertiary students. Of that number, 43.21 percent were fully vaccinated, while 16.52 received the first dose, according to CHED.
According to CHED, the vaccination rate has increased with the help of school-based vaccination.
Meanwhile, the vaccination rate among higher education institutions (HEIs) employees rose to 87.1 percent, CHED said.
This is equivalent to 255,229 vaccinated HEI personnel out of a total of 293,058 employees.
The vaccination rate among HEI personnel on Nov. 25 was 82.45 percent.
“The vaccination rate of our education frontliners have reached herd immunity levels ensuring not only their availability to join face-to-face classes, but more importantly, they are helping protect their families and communities from the rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus,” said CHED Chairman Prospero de Vera.
CHED and its partner, local government units, aim to provide a booster shot to the tertiary education sector by early 2022.
Limited face-to-face classes are now allowed at colleges and universities in areas under Alert Level 1 to 3 but only vaccinated students and personnel can participate.
More than 400 reported dead in Typhoon Odette: NDRRMC
The number of reported deaths due to Typhoon Odette has reached more than 400, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Friday.
According to the NDRRMC, of the 405 reported dead, only 75 have been confirmed.
There were also 1,147 who sustained injuries due to the storm, while 82 more are missing, the agency said.
Today, more than 300,000 people remain in evacuation centers.
According to the NDRRMC, the damage caused by the typhoon to infrastructure has reached P16.7 billion.
According to NDRRMC Executive Director Ricardo Jalad, the government will continue to deliver aid to the victims of the typhoon, even on holidays.
Jalad also denied allegations that the government prioritizes the delivery of aid to vote-rich areas, especially that there will be elections next year.
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