Military hospitals ordered to assist LGUs in COVID-19 vaccination program

Defense Chief Delfin Lorenzana on Monday ordered military hospitals and medical assets nationwide to help local government units (LGUs) in their immunization program against COVID-19, particularly in the proper handling and storage of COVID-19 jabs.

During President Rodrigo Duterte's Talk to the Nation briefing, Lorenzana said Armed Forces of the Philippines assets would help in deploying vaccines safely to provinces.

"In addition po, mayroon tayong 11 na barko na pwedeng humakot ng mga vaccine dahil meron silang malaking refrigeration capacity na malaki kung mapapadala po nating mga isla at pwedeng gamitin yung barko. Isa pa ang eroplano handa mag-transport ng vaccines mula Manila papuntang probinsya," Lorenzana said.

(Additionally, we have 11 ships that can transport vaccines as these vessels have large capacity refrigeration units. These vessels can transport large numbers of vaccines to islands. Another thing, aircraft are ready to transport vaccines from Manila to the provinces.)

In his presentation, Lorenzana cited that there are 20 Philippine Army hospitals, eight Philippine Air Force hospitals, nine Philippine Navy hospitals, and 11 hospitals in Unified Area Commands.

"In anticipation of the arrival of huge volumes of vaccines I have alerted the military hospitals all over the country... to assist the LGU in the vaccination program," Lorenzana said.

Duterte, for his part, asked the military to make sure that they had available cold chain facilities to avoid spoilage of vaccines. He added that the military may ask the government for equipment that will maintain the temperature required for the COVID-19 jabs.

"We are using all assets of government be it plane or anong klaseng barko para maihatid ang far-flung places ang bakuna. Ang problema kasi ganito, you must have the refrigeration. If you do not have one tell us in advance. Tapos, you don't have equipment to keep temperatures desired for vaccines, masasayang lang," said Duterte. — DVM, GMA News