Seniors mark transition from students to practice teachers through Send-off, Pinning Ceremony

by Abegail G. Teodoro

Despite the overwhelming consequences of the pandemic, Philippine Normal University North Luzon (PNUNL) successfully marked the transition of fourthyear students from students to practice teachers through a sendoff and pinning ceremony in the University Gymnasium, May 17.

Dr. Madonna C. Gonzales, Dean of Academics and IPEd, presided at the event, highlighting each student-teacher receiving their bar pin. She welcomed all parents and students at the first part, followed by the presentation of the student-teachers who were deployed on March 18.

Before beginning their teaching internship, the pinning ceremony, which symbolizes a teacher’s acceptance of responsibility and a more significant

PNUNL commences expanded F2F Classes

Dr. Taloma debunks vaccine boosters’ myths

To debunk myths about COVID-19 vaccine boosters, Philippine Normal University North Luzon (PNUNL) through its Medical and Dental Clinic administered a webinar entitled “Myth Bu/OO/ by Vera Jewel C. Lacerna “I hope that we get boosted, because makikita natin on our regional data na 15% lamang ang nakatanggap ng booster shot kasi ang usual na sinasabi nila satin ay ‘nakatanggap naman na po kami ng first shot’, … Humihina pa rin ang ating panlaban, that’s why we need resistance, we need to get boosted,” said Taloma.

USTER: What You Need to Know” headed by Dr. Ma. Angelica Taloma, Chief of Collaborating Center for Disease Prevention and Control in Cagayan Valley – Center for Health Development, DOH – R02, June 15, via Zoom.

Dr. Taloma had already enlightened and encouraged the PNUNL community on December 2021 when primary doses were in the headlines; this year, she focused on the science behind COVID-19 booster shots.

[I hope we get boosted because our regional data only showed a 15% boostered group, and the public usually reasons out, ‘we already received the first shot’. Our temporary immunity still expires; that’s why we need resistance, we need to get boosted.]

Additionally, Taloma reported that the region had reached Alert Level I (Low-Risk Level) and emphasized using PDITR+V to mitigate the viral infection: PREVENT the disease; DETECT the disease early; ISOLATE the infected or exposed individual immediately; TREATMENT and management; then REINTEGRATE them back to the community + VACCINATION.

She also cited figures from the vaccination of the large population for the primary doses showing a tremendous drop of COVID cases in the latter part of 2021, which stayed until early 2022 before the onset of the Omicron Variant in January.

Moreover, Taloma stressed that the second booster shot would augment the effect of the vaccine, noting that the immunity is only temporary and weakens after several months.

She also presented the prioritized groups for the second booster, namely, healthcare workers (A1), senior citizens

(A2), and immunocompromised individuals or people who have an existing illness that is affecting their resistance to fight the infection (A3).

Taloma explained that the interval of the second booster varies among the priority groups; for A3, it must be three months after the first one, while for A1 and A2, it must be four months.

In the long run of the lockdown mandate, Dr. Taloma reminded the interconnected layers of protection: wearing face masks; observing social distancing; keeping proper ventilation; and getting vaccinated and booster shots.

Furthermore, Taloma commended the PNUNL for its active information dissemination campaign, particularly in the field of health. #