By Antonio Luis A. Carreon

Far Eastern University Central Student Organization (FEUCSO) announced its free COVID-19 vaccination program, TamBakuna last January 10 as part of its efforts to vaccinate FEU students.

Through a partnership with TOA Global, FEUCSO secured a deal that would accommodate 4,800 Moderna vaccines for first and second doses and booster shots of FEU students.

In an online interview with FEU Advocate, FEUCSO President Arnold Kristoff Luzon said that the program is to heed the strong call for a safe opening of limited face-to-face classes in line with the organization’s battle cry ‘Ipanalo Ang Sigaw ng Tamaraw.’

“It is difficult to advocate or post that we want limited face-to-face without an action. So this is our concrete action to accomplish our goal for a limited face-to-face [classes] return,” said Luzon.

FEUCSO Vice President Pauline Rauchelle Obispo said that the program was inspired by the existing vaccination drive of other universities.

In addition, Treasurer Roberto Reynoso II shared that the majority of the responses from their program’s initial registration are requesting booster shots instead of primary doses.

“If we’re going to base it on the survey provided by the FEU administration, around 90% of students who answered that survey are fully vaccinated,” said Reynoso.

Meanwhile, Obispo also shared that getting a partnership served as a challenge to the sustainability of the program due to the lack of sponsors for the procurement of vaccines.

Further, Obispo said they were unable to provide a recovery kit to vaccine recipients due to the recent heightened restrictions in Metro Manila and the escalated demand for medicine.

Alternatively, they came up with a Php 140 transportation allowance to be reimbursed to the first 500 vaccine recipients. 

TamBakuna is set to be administered in the mega vaccination site of the Solaire-ICTSI Foundation Vaccination Center in Parañaque City.

As of writing, the guidelines of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) allow only fully vaccinated students to attend limited face-to-face classes.

(Photo courtesy of FEUCSO)