DOH OK with individuals getting COVID-19 vaccine outside their hometowns

After two former government officials got their COVID-19 vaccine in Davao City, the Department of Health (DOH) on Friday said it sees no issue with individuals getting inoculated in areas that they are not residents of.

“Kailangan nating makapagpatupad din ng portability… na kung pupunta ka sa isang lugar ay maaari ka rin namang mabakunahan kung doon ka temporary na nagse-stay or what,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said.

(We also need to allow some portability where you can get vaccinated if you go to an area because you are temporarily staying there or what.)

“It depends on the circumstances. We are not so much very strict sa (with) geographic limitations. Ang sa atin lang, ‘yung prioritization framework ay ipatupad natin (What’s important to us is that the prioritization framework is observed),” she added.

On Wednesday, former Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and former Camarines Sur Representative Rolando Andaya Jr. got their COVID-19 jab in Davao City during a visit to Mayor Sara Duterte. 

Some netizens questioned whether Teodoro and Andaya were Davao residents.

Vergeire said the DOH has already coordinated with its regional office in Davao, which is expected to release a statement on the matter.

“Nevertheless, kami po ay naniniwala na ang ating regional office naman diyan sa (We believe that our regional office in) Davao, they follow our protocols,” she said.

“Titingnan po natin kung ano po ‘yung kanilang ibibigay na information para hindi na rin po nagkakaroon ng agam-agam ang ating mga kababayan (We’ll look at the information they’ll give to address people’s concerns),” Vergeire added. —KBK, GMA News