GONZALES-PERALTA VAX CLARIFICATIONS

USTFU-PL-014-21 10 May 2021 PROF. CHERYL R. PERALTA, DrPH Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs University of Santo Tomas Dear Dr. Peralta: Greetings! Allow me first to thank you and the administration and staff of the UST Health Service for issuing a very important update regarding the UST Vaccination Program last April 28, 2021 via the Thomasian Online Medical Services and Support (ThOMedSS). However, there are still some very important concerns that remain unclear for the members of the USTFU which the leadership has tried to answer. May I ask for your time to comment on USTFU’s statements regarding the vaccination program? First, USTFU supports the idea that the sooner a faculty member gets vaccinated, the better. As a corollary, USTFU reiterates the UST Health Service advisory that faculty members (tenured, probationary, fixed-term, part-time, substitute) may register for vaccination in their local government units (LGUs) or through the City of Manila. Furthermore, if a faculty member (tenured, probationary, fixed-term, part-time, substitute) who registered in his/her LGU was called for vaccination but chose to wait for the UST COVOVAX, but later got infected by COVID-19 before the arrival of COVOVAX, the faculty member him/herself is to take that responsibility. Second, assume July 2021 and the COVOVAX vaccines arrive in UST through UNILAB and the UST vaccination roll-out has begun, USTFU maintains the following points: 1. The vaccination for a tenured faculty member is FREE, to be paid for by UST; 2. The vaccination for a probationary faculty member is FREE, to be paid for by UST; 3. The vaccination for a fixed-term faculty member is FREE, to be paid for by UST; 4. The vaccination for a part-time faculty member is FREE, to be paid for by UST; 5. The vaccination for a substitute faculty member is FREE, to be paid for by UST; 6. The vaccination for a faculty member on Sabbatical Leave is FREE, to be paid for by UST; 7. The vaccination for a faculty member on Study Leave is FREE, to be paid for by UST; 8. The vaccination for faculty members on Leave Without Pay is FREE, to be paid for by UST.   

These points are all based on RA 11525, DOLE Advisory No. 18 s.20, DOLE Advisory No. 3. s.21, and the UST Health Service Advisory via ThOMedSS last April 28, 2021, stating that the vaccination program of the University is for “tenured or non-tenured/regular or probationary.” Third, assume that the faculty member has been fully vaccinated via his/her LGU or via the City of Manila BUT he/she has reserved COVOVAX from UST: 1. The faculty member, with the appropriate Medical Clearance/Advice (as per Dr. Co’s reply during the March webinar), may still choose to get vaccinated with UST’s COVOVAX; 2. The faculty member, with the assistance of USTFU, can look for his/her substitute recipient of the COVOVAX from UST’s employees to avoid cost; 3. The faculty member may appoint a non-UST employee to receive the COVOVAX at Php 3,000 cash for the complete shots. Fourth, dependents and members of the faculty’s “bubble group” with reserved COVOVAX from UST will pay Php 3,000 per person per complete shot. Dependents of members of the bubble group who got vaccinated via their LGU may appoint a substitute recipient of the COVOVAX vaccine at Php 3,000 per person per complete shot, but the vaccine is FREE if the substitute recipient is an employee of UST. Fifth, with the “Go Signal” from UNILAB and UST, and based on the Master List from the UST Health Service, the UST Faculty Union and the Local College/Faculty Clubs/Associations shall assist the UST Treasurer’s Office in the collection of the vaccination fees for the dependents or members of the bubble group of the faculty. Lastly, due to the current crisis in India, faculty members are concerned whether NOVOVAX and UNILAB Phils can deliver the vaccine on the date agreed upon with UST. Assuming the worst-case scenario, some questions are being raised by faculty members that USTFU cannot answer: 1. Can UST cancel its orders of COVOVAX based on the Memorandum of Agreement/Contract with UNILAB? If so, will UST cancel? If not, what are UST’s new directives for its employees? 2. Is UST considering other vaccines in place of COVOVAX? If so, what vaccines are being considered? I fully understand the complexities of the situation and USTFU is thankful for your time and effort in implementing the University’s vaccination program. I am hoping for your written reply on these points/issues for clarity and accuracy in order for both UST and USTFU can work together to make the vaccination program a success. Thank you very much and stay safe! Yours in solidarity, (SIGNED) EMERITO C. GONZALES President 2

UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS OFFICE OF THE VICE RECTOR FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS UST:S002-LE441 A.Y. 2020-2021 24 May 2021 ASST. PROF. EMERITO GONZALES President, UST Faculty Union University of Santo Tomas Espana Blvd., Manila Dear Asst. Prof. Gonzales: This is in response to your letter dated 19 May 2021 stating inquiries regarding the University’s vaccination program for COVID-19. We respond to your queries as follows: 1. “…if a faculty member (tenured, probationary, fixed-term, part-time, substitute) who registered in his/her LGU was called for vaccination but chose to wait for the UST COVOVAX, but later got infected by COVID-19 before the arrival of COVOVAX, the faculty member him/herself is to take that responsibility.” We emphasize that, according to medical experts, the vaccines provide an additional layer of protection for COVID-19 infection as these are expected to reduce the chances of getting severe infection, hospitalization, and death. However, vaccinated individuals are expected to exercise caution and implement health protocols because they may still get infected with COVID-19. With or without vaccination, University staff are individually responsible for the cost of treatment for COVID-19 beyond the cost of testing based on recommendations of the Health Service and the CBA hospitalization benefit accorded to regular University staff. 2. “The vaccination for…tenured…probationary…fixed-term…part-time…substitute…faculty members on Sabbatical Leave…faculty member on Study Leave…faculty members on leave without pay, is FREE, to be paid for by UST.” DOLE contemplates that the coverage of the vaccination program is anchored on an employer- employee relationship. Thus, whether the employee is regular or non-regular (i.e., probationary, fixed- term, part-time, or substitute), for as long as they have teaching/workload at the time of vaccine reservation and later inoculation, they are covered by the University’s vaccination program. Those who are on paid leave of absence (i.e., sabbatical leave and study leave) are considered active faculty members because they have equivalent load encoded in the system for purposes of compensation. Thus, they are likewise covered by the University’s vaccination program. We confirm that the University shall cover the cost of the vaccines and the inoculation fee. On the other hand, regular faculty members on leave of absence without pay are not considered to be in active service because their salaries and benefits are suspended during the period of the leave. Thus, they are not covered by the University's vaccination program. 3. “…assume that the faculty member has been fully vaccinated via his/her LGU or via the City of Manila BUT he/she has reserved COVOVAX from UST: “1. The faculty member, with the appropriate Medical Clearance/Advice (as per Dr. Co’s reply during the March webinar), may still choose to get vaccinated with UST’s COVOVAX.” Rm 105 Ground Floor Main Building, UST España Blvd. Sampaloc, Manila, Philippines 1015 Telephone: +63-2-3406-1611 local 8415 / 8231 • Telefax: +63-2-8731-3038 • [email protected]

UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS OFFICE OF THE VICE RECTOR FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS As long as faculty members requested a reservation or did not cancel their reservation for the Covovax vaccine, they may avail of the Covovax vaccine after 6-9 months of completing their first vaccine, depending upon the recommendation of medical experts or vaccine suppliers. “2. The faculty member, with the assistance of USTFU, can look for his/her substitute recipient of the COVOVAX from UST’s employees to avoid cost” We confirm that the University shall allow employee-to-employee substitution for the vaccination program. “3. The faculty member may appoint a non-UST employee to receive the COVOVAX at Php 3,000 cash for the complete shots.” The Health Service was informed by the UST Hospital that they are providing us a discount for the inoculation fee, reducing it to Php900 for two doses. Thus, the total cost of the vaccines plus inoculation fee shall be Php2,900 for two doses per individual. As mentioned above, the University shall only allow employee-to-employee substitution. A faculty member may NOT appoint a non-UST employee as substitute and require that individual to pay for the cost of the vaccination as this may be misconstrued as selling the vaccines, which is not allowed by current government guidelines. 4. “…dependents and members of the faculty’s “bubble group” with reserved COVOVAX from UST will pay Php 3,000 per person per complete shot. Dependents of members of the bubble group who got vaccinated via their LGU may appoint a substitute recipient of the COVOVAX vaccine at Php 3,000 per person per complete shot, but the vaccine is FREE if the substitute recipient is an employee of UST.” Vaccine orders lodged for University staff's bubble group are considered confirmed and subject to payment after the deadline set by the Health Service. University staff who requested the reservation must pay for all vaccines ordered for their dependents/bubble group members. They also have the responsibility to look for substitute recipients from within their bubble group, given the government rationale for granting this privilege in the first place. University staff cannot serve as substitute recipients for bubble group members of academic staff because this may mean that the University shall reimburse the University staff for the cost of this vaccine order. 5. “with the “Go Signal” from UNILAB and UST, and based on the Master List from the UST Health Service, the UST Faculty Union and the Local College/Faculty Clubs/Associations shall assist the UST Treasurer’s Office in the collection of the vaccination fees for the dependents or members of the bubble group of the faculty.” USTFU shall facilitate the collection of payments of faculty members for their bubble group for whom they ordered vaccines. USTFU shall turn over the payment directly to UNILAB on the date to be determined by them. We clarify that these payments will no longer pass through the Office of the Vice-Rector for Finance. 6. “Can UST cancel its orders of COVOVAX based on the Memorandum of Agreement/Contract with UNILAB? If so, will UST cancel? If not, what are UST’s new directives for its employees? “Is UST considering other vaccines in place of COVOVAX? If so, what vaccines are being considered? Rm 105 Ground Floor Main Building, UST España Blvd. Sampaloc, Manila, Philippines 1015 Telephone: +63-2-3406-1611 local 8415 / 8231 • Telefax: +63-2-8731-3038 • [email protected]

UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS OFFICE OF THE VICE RECTOR FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS The term sheet agreement is legally binding. The expected date of delivery that UNILAB gave was 3rd Quarter of the year. The Health Service has not received any advice from Unilab as to a possible delay in the delivery but they shall coordinate with Unilab again for updates. We continue to hope that the vaccines will arrive on time. We hope this sufficiently answers your inquiries. Sincerely, PROF. CHERYL R. PERALTA, DrPH Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs cc: Dr. Sheryl Dionisio, Director, Health Service Rm 105 Ground Floor Main Building, UST España Blvd. Sampaloc, Manila, Philippines 1015 Telephone: +63-2-3406-1611 local 8415 / 8231 • Telefax: +63-2-8731-3038 • [email protected]