DOH: 50,000 vaccinators needed for initial rollout

A total of 50,000 vaccinators are needed to administer coronavirus vaccines to priority groups, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said Wednesday.

Vergeire said the estimate was based on the number of individuals eligible for vaccination in each of the vulnerable sectors.

“Nakikita natin kakailanganin po natin ng roughly around 50,000 vaccinators para po dito sa ating isasagawang deployment program for the priority population,” she said the Laging Handa briefing.

Under the prioritization list, frontline workers in healthcare facilities, senior citizens, and persons with comorbidities are first in line for COVID-19 vaccines. 

Meanwhile, Vergeire said over 4,000 people have undergone vaccinator training.

“Meron na po tayong na-train starting from December na mahigit 4,000. They are the trainors, and sila po ngayon ang nagbababa nitong mga training dito sa iba’t ibang lugar sa ating bansa,” she said.

The health official said the “end-to-end” training covered the preparatory stages for vaccination and the monitoring of vaccine recipients after receiving their doses.

Last month, vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said around 25,000 vaccinators were undergoing training. 

However, the delivery of the first batch of vaccines was delayed by indemnification concerns. 

Malacañang said there is no definitive delivery date yet for the 117,000 Pfizer-BioNTech doses that will be administered on health workers. — RSJ, GMA News