COVID-19 vaccinations have begun for student-athletes belonging to member schools of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.
School officials reported that the Commission on Higher Education got things started last Wednesday, with around 300 student-athletes getting their anti-COVID-19 shots.
The vaccinations started at the University of Santo Tomas campus, which has an ongoing program that is preparing its student-athletes for the coming 84th season of the UAAP.
According to officials, UST Tiger cager Soulemane Chabi-Yo and UST women’s badminton team captain Elij Maridaine Peña were among those who were inoculated.
Meanwhile, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez joined officials during the ceremonial vaccination at the University of the Philippines-Diliman campus in Quezon City.
The league is looking to fire off Season 84 in the first quarter of 2022 with basketball.
Volleyball events are being planned to be held after Holy Week.
Member schools of the UAAP are getting ready to hold physical training activities in a bubble-type environment by the last week of October, or in the early days of November.
The league has been continuously refining this setup over the last 10 months, as organizers pursue plans to stage competitions.
School authorities are now waiting for the approval of the Commission on Higher Education and Interagency Task Force for the Management of Infectious Diseases before they can finally execute their plans.
Executive director, Atty. Rene “Rebo” Saguisag Jr. said they are looking at a two-month interval before they can hold actual games in the league.