CHED scraps vaccination requirement for face-to-face classes

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) on Monday said that the COVID-19 vaccination requirement for students and employees of higher education institutions (HEI) prior to attending in-person classes will no longer be in effect,.

At a briefing on August 29, CHED Chairman Prospero de Vera made the announcement and stated that all stakeholders needed to be informed about the change in policy.

“We are changing it because vaccination levels are already high in higher education institutions. The percentage of the at-risk individuals is significantly lower now and therefore easier to control on the part of our HEIs,” he said.

De Vera noted that they took advice from other nations that had abandoned the mandate for best practices.

De Vera claims that 289,578 or 90% of HEI staff and 4,092,228 or 77% of tertiary-level students had each gotten at least one dosage of the vaccine.

According to the Department of Health (DOH), more than 11 million people in the 18 to 25 age range have received all recommended vaccinations.

Health professionals also pointed out that COVID-19 is considered to be low-risk nationwide, with the DOH stating that cases for all age categories have decreased in the majority of locations. Only CAR and Metro Manila are currently classified as moderate danger.

The DOH stated that vaccination requirements for students are no longer in effect in nations in the Western Pacific, such as Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand. The obligation for vaccination has been abolished from the UK, however it is still strongly advised.

The completion of health declaration papers and body temperature checks is now up to the discretion of HEIs, according to CHED. It recommended HEIs to keep up with the minimal public health requirements.

In addition, CHED plans to begin a new round of campus-based immunizations, especially for unvaccinated staff members and children.