AROUND 156 students of the Talisay City College (TCC) got their first shots of Covid-19 vaccine during a one-day vaccination activity at their campus in Barangay Poblacion, Talisay City on Friday, November 26, 2021.

Dr. Richel Bacaltos, TCC president, told SunStar Cebu that they requested the city government to hold a separate vaccination activity at their college to allow some of their students to avail themselves of Covid-19 vaccination.

Bacaltos said as of Friday, only 34 percent of their 5,000 enrolled students have received their Covid-19 shots.

Though all of their teaching and non-teaching personnel are now fully vaccinated, Bacaltos admitted they still need a majority of their students to get their vaccines so that they can comply with one of the Commission on Higher Education’s (Ched) requirements so that they can start implementing face-to-face classes again.

Though only a few of their students got vaccinated, Bacaltos said they still have a chance during the National Vaccination Day on Monday, Nov. 29, as TCC was included as one of the venues for vaccination.

Bacaltos said should more students refuse to get vaccinated, he plans to visit them in their barangays and talk to them on the benefits of getting vaccinated against Covid-19.

Talisay City Mayor Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas Jr., who was present during the vaccination activity at TCC, urged students to avail themselves of Covid-19 shots as a way to protect their families.

“Vaccination is a simple, safe, and effective way of protecting people against harmful diseases, specifically the Covid-19 virus, before we come into contact with them,” Gullas added.