The city government here will give booster shots to all teachers in 53 public schools on Tuesday (Aug. 23).

Through its program Ronda Bakuna, a bus will be deployed at the Angeles Elementary School to conduct booster shot vaccination for teaching personnel from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr. said the move aims to ensure the safety of teachers and learners with the opening of classes and the resumption of face-to-face learning.

“Ngayon pong magbabalik na ang (With the resumption of the) face-to-face classes, we need to put a priority on the safety of everyone in the classroom setting,” Lazatin said in social media post.

The mayor also said this is also in respect to the policy of the Department of Education (DepEd) to require teaching personnel involved in the face-to-face classes to be vaccinated.

The Ronda Bakuna bus will have on-board doctors, nurses, medical technologists, health workers and support staff from City Health Office, Angeles City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, and the Gender and Development Office.

City Health Officer Dr. Verona Guevarra cited the importance to take booster shots in order to best stay protected from the virus.

“Open po ito (this is open) for first and second shots of booster. For those who did not yet receive their first booster shot, we will accommodate them too,” Guevarra said.

Meanwhile, Ma. Irelyn Tamayo, DepEd-Angeles City Schools Division superintendent, thanked the city government for bringing vaccines closer to the teachers and students.

The city government has been continuously conducting its booster shot vaccination for 12-17 years old in the six rural health units of the city.

Guevarra said eligible minors for the booster shots are those who are fully vaccinated already for five months.

To date, a total of 403,187 Angeleños have already received their first dose, 379,275 are fully vaccinated, while 87,798 got their first booster shots, and 6,232 for second booster shots. (PNA)