LGUs asked to set up more COVID-19 vaccination sites

The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday encouraged local governments to set up more vaccination sites to boost the country’s COVID-19 inoculation program.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said local governments may be taking a while to schedule the vaccination of residents due to the volume of individuals registered for vaccination.

Vergeire said around 1.8 million health workers, 9 million senior citizens, and 14 million persons with comorbidities make up the top three priority sectors for vaccination.

“Ang kailangan po natin gawin ngayon (What we need to do now is) let’s expand our vaccination sites,” she said in an online briefing.

“We’re encouraging our local governments nga na baka pwedeng madagdagan pa ang kanilang vaccination sites para mas bumilis po ang pagpapatawag natin sa ating mga kababayan para bakunahan,” she added.

(We’re encouraging our local governments to add more vaccination sites to speed up the scheduling for vaccination.)

Several Metro Manila mayors earlier reported that the number of residents who registered for a COVID-19 vaccine exceeded the supply. 

Vergeire said local governments can request additional doses from the DOH.

Authorities also plan to use big venues, such as the Nayong Pilipino property in Parañaque, as mega vaccination sites

“Hopefully ito pong lahat will give us that speed in vaccination para mas marami na po tayong mabakunahan (Hopefully all these will give us that speed in vaccination so we can inoculate more people),” Vergeire said.

Vaccinators

The health official also recommended that local governments put non-healthcare workers in charge of screening, counseling, and monitoring in vaccination sites due to the shortage of health workers.

“Basta merong isang overall na doktor na nag-o-oversee ng bawat vaccination team tapos ‘yung nurse or ‘yung doctor or ‘yung pharmacist or midwife ang magbabakuna para po magamit natin rationally ang ating mga healthcare workers,” she said.

(There should be one doctor overseeing each vaccination team while nurses, doctors, pharmacists, and midwives administer vaccines so we can allocate healthcare workers rationally.)

The DOH previously said it has the funds to hire more health workers but the number of applicants remains low. 

The Philippines has only received over 3 million COVID-19 vaccine doses so far, 1.5 million of which have been administered as of April 20. — RSJ, GMA News