Tingog Party-list nominee and actress-singer Karla Estrada led her team in the free pneumococcal vaccination of 150 teachers in three schools in Tanauan, Leyte on Friday.
Estrada said the vaccination will serve as an added protection to teachers who may participate in the Department of Education’s (DepEd) pilot run of limited face-to-face classes in the country starting November 15.
Estrada thanked the teachers for their efforts to pursue the education of students despite the limitations caused by the global health crisis. She said education “is the most powerful weapon to ensure a brighter future.”
Estrada said teachers deserve the highest commendation for their sacrifice in this time of COVID-19, especially now that they have no choice but to participate in the limited face-to-face classes.
She said the “Tingog party-list group has been praying that God will keep the teachers blessed, healthy and safe in the performance of their passion and vocation to educate the future leaders of the country.”
Tingog official Bunny Celebrado said the vaccination event was held Wednesday morning at the Tanauan II Central School here where teachers from the Tanauan National High School, Tanauan II Central School and Tanauan III Central School were chosen as beneficiaries.
Tanauan II Central School Principal Arnulfo Octa expressed gratitude to Tingog Party-list led by Rep. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez who chairs the House Committee on the Welfare of Children, Estrada, and Jude Avorque Acidre for their compassionate act of ensuring teachers’ health.
“I consider this a blessing especially to the teachers who availed this [vaccine]. It’s very timely that we received this vaccine as we are still combating the COVID-19 virus,” Octa said.
Acidre, a Tingog nominee and chief of staff of Romualdez, said the “malasakit” (compassionate) act of Tingog led by Romualdez is aimed at boosting the health care services amid the (COVID-19 pandemic).
“Tingog’s malasakit will continue because we are committed to help the people in our quest to emerge victorious in these uncertain times,” Acidre, also the national president of Junior Chamber International (JCI) Philippines, said.
Celebrado said the vaccine works by causing a body to produce its own protection or antibodies against the infection by pneumococcal bacteria.
According to medical institutions, pneumococcal infection can cause some serious problems, such as pneumonia, which affects the lungs; meningitis, which affects the brain; and bacteremia, which is a severe infection in the blood that will lead to death, especially adults and persons with certain health conditions.