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Dr. Aristotle P. Carandang
Two years and immeasurable damage are what the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to human existence. One sector that has been gravely affected is education; and the Philippines continues its serious fight. In this corner of the world, the University of the Immaculate Concepcion (UIC), like any other academic institution, has its share of both triumphs and challenges.
When the Philippine government finally announced the necessary lockdown all over the country, the UIC, with all its three campuses in Davao City, immediately closed its gates and instantaneously migrated to online classes including business transactions. The 13th day of March 2021 stood witness to the eerie silence as gates literally closed.
Such action was in response to the call of the Davao authorities that declared the mandatory lockdown, two weeks before the final examination for the second semester of school year 2019 – 2020. Suddenly, all school operations were halted. University officials immediately implemented distance mode complete with all details for online transactions and class instructions. To everyone’s surprise, it was as if the management had foreseen the situation and that they already had a very sound backup operational plan that was put into action. Slowly, everyone was adjusting to something new, something difficult for most – transition to what would be the new normal.
Unsung Heroes
The first wave of the pandemic posed real threat to everyone. Despite what was happening, the UIC has made it sure that operation should not totally cease although working at the most minimum. Here, individuals shared their respective sacrifices as each took a turn to form the skeletal workforce ensuring continuous delivery of services.
They are the UIC heroes. From the management to support services, each of the personnel has become an integral part of what can be related to as a well-oiled machine that is the UIC.
As online transactions including classes have started to adjust to this somewhat new normal, there are several individuals who need to be physically present in the campuses. Each office has ensured that at least one staff member performs the regular duties to make sure that operations are not halted. Teachers migrated to online and modular classes, non-teaching personnel continued their support services, maintenance staff sweated it out for the upkeep of all corners, among others.
This time, the Health Services Office (HSO) has now become the central nervous system as far as health protocols are concerned. This also included coordination with IATF and coming up with a telehealth service concerning health matters for all employees. The HSO has started coordination on vaccination activities especially since the vaccine has become available.
With the coordinated action of the Davao City government and the group to oversee the worsening situation – the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases Resolutions, various local guidelines have been set in the Davao area. From various initiatives and the now famous “ayuda”, the whole nation has become one in trying to mitigate the effect of the spread of the virus that has already become a pandemic.
Protocols may have come and gone but what is religiously observed by UIC is its concern for everyone by following all the guidelines set by the government. For months on end, UIC campuses in Fr. Selga, Bonifacio, and Bajada have strictly followed the needed lockdown, quarantine, and social distancing protocols. And all transactions have been done online.
Vaccination
The COVID-19 problem has now become a much bigger concern since the SARS 2 COVID-19 has started to mutate. From the original Alpha strain, the virus has mutated and become more virulent – the Delta variant. And soon as the vaccine became available, the UIC management encouraged most of its personnel to get vaccinated. As of October 2021, 98.35% of the UIC personnel have received two doses of the vaccine.
Summary of UIC Personnel Vaccination against COVID-19
As of October 2021
Interestingly, only six or 1.64% out of 365 UIC personnel remain unvaccinated due to various reasons, health and personal.
Out of concern for the rest of the community, the University opened its doors to vaccination activities for Davao residents to support the drive of the government. All its three campuses hosted various schedules. Because of these vaccination drives, Dabaweños were able to enter the compounds of the University after being closed due to the pandemic. First of the series was a partnership with Aboitiz & Company for its pilot vaccination drive on 11 September 2021 at UIC Bonifacio Campus. This was in partnership with Davao Light and Power Company (DLPC) and the Philippine Red Cross where 405 individuals, who were employees and contractors of DLPC, received their first dose of Pfizer vaccine against COVID-19.
The following Saturday, on 18 September 2021, 667 parishioners of St. Jude Thaddeus and Assumption parishes were given AstraZeneca vaccine at the UIC Father Selga Campus. This was immediately followed by another on 25 September 2021. This time, the vaccination drive was held at the UIC Bonifacio Campus for parishioners of San Pedro Davao Metropolitan Cathedral and Our Lady of Fatima that catered to 1,680 individuals with the Sinovac vaccine.
“The engagement of the University is part of its commitment to be of service to the wider community by sharing its resources such as human and physical facilities”, said Sr. Marissa R. Viri, RVM, UIC President.
She also shared that the UIC as a Catholic educational institution was at the service of society and partners with the church, government, and non-government organizations in their various programs and activities. “In this way, UIC can participate in the mission of the Church”, she added.
For the UIC alumni, through high school batch, 1996 in celebration of its silver anniversary, another round of vaccination was completed. The UIC Alumni Association (UICAA) hosted the activity on 2-3 October 2021 in collaboration with Gaisano Mall of Davao, Turismo Rotary Club of Central Davao, Rely Construction and, Sibs Call Center for UIC employees and their dependents. Hosting of the vaccination drive was a prelude to the grand alumni homecoming of Batch 1996 to be streamed through the UIC Facebook page on 8 December 2021, with a theme “Share the love.”
In support of the event, the UICAA provided financial assistance through board members Adelfa Angeles and Lili Arellano. A total of 723 individuals, both pre-registered and walk-ins, received their first dose of the Sinovac vaccine against COVID-19. The batch representative, Dr. Danna Reyes said that this was the UIC's way of working with the government in its vaccination drive.
Opening the gates
The gates of UIC Bonifacio Campus have finally opened for face-to-face classes. In September 2021, UIC welcomed 4th-year students taking Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science (BSMLS). This came about after following the guidelines set in Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2021-001 issued by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Department of Health (DOH).
For the UIC BSMLS, 4th-year students need to do laboratory work. Today there are 251 students who attend face-to-face classes and 249 are fully vaccinated. Only two out of this number are unvaccinated due to religious beliefs.
According to UIC President Sr. Marissa R. Viri, RVM, the limited reopening was “considered to enhance the students’ technical competence in the performance of clinical laboratory tests in aid of diagnosis, treatment, and management of diseases vis-à-vis biosafety and waste management”. She explained that “hands-on practice is necessary to achieve this and the other qualities a graduate of BSMLS should possess”. She further said that “the limited face-to-face internship held at the in-campus Clinical Laboratory and Training Center, the only one in Davao Region, is CHED accredited and has a DOH License to Operate as a training laboratory. The BS Nursing also applied for limited face-to-face classes for fourth-year students at the Fr. Selga campus and awaiting the Certificate of Authority from the CHED Regional Office.”
The joint circular states, “This issuance shall serve as a guide for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) intending to hold limited face-to-face classes during the COVID-19 pandemic and are willing to assume the responsibilities for the reopening of their campuses based on their capability to comply with health and safety protocols, to retrofit their facilities, and to get the support of their stakeholders.”
For the gradual reopening of campuses of HEIs for limited face-to-face classes, the following health-related degree programs deemed necessary in providing additional support to the health system during the pandemic have been prioritized: Medicine, Nursing, Medical Technology/Medical Laboratory Science, Physical Therapy, Midwifery, Public Health.
How the vaccines work
“But it’s not vaccines that will stop the pandemic, it’s vaccination. We must ensure fair and equitable access to vaccines, and ensure every country receives them and can roll them out to protect their people, starting with the most vulnerable”, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
As a United Nations agency, WHO connects nations, partners, and people to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable – so everyone, everywhere can attain the highest level of health. It further said that equitable access to safe and effective vaccines was critical to ending the COVID-19 pandemic. And for ordinary citizens, development of various vaccines gives hope, but people must be reminded, at the same time, that being vaccinated does not mean that we can throw caution out the window and put everyone at risk.
Experts from WHO said that the COVID-19 vaccines produce protection against the disease because of developing an immune response to the SARS-Cov-2 virus. When one develops immunity through vaccination there is a reduced risk of developing the illness and its consequences. This immunity helps an individual fight the virus if exposed. They further explained that getting vaccinated may also protect other people because such protection from getting infected and from the disease, is less likely to infect someone else.
It should be noted that, in general, people are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose in a two-dose series, such as the Pfizer, Moderna vaccines, etc. or. two weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson's Janssen vaccine according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Further, the CSC said “If you don’t meet these requirements, regardless of your age, you are NOT fully vaccinated. Keep taking all precautions until you are fully vaccinated.”
Below is the list of available vaccines against COVID-19 as shared by the Department of Health.
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