COVID-19 vaccination slow in 5 regions due to access issues, lack of vaccinators —Galvez

Administration of COVID-19 vaccine doses in at least five regions remains slow due to challenges in accessibility and lack of vaccinators, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said Monday.

During the Laging Handa briefing, Galvez identified these regions as Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Region 4B (Mimaropa), Region 5 (Bicol Region), Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula) and Region 12 (Soccsksargen).

"It is because of accessibility [challenges] like in BARMM, since Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, which are island provinces, they do not have cold chain facilities [for vaccine storage]," Galvez said.

"We are also short in vaccinators, and we have had consultations with medical associations, and they, as well as allied medical professionals such as pharmacists and dentists, are willing to help," he added.

The government is eyeing to administer 1 million to 1.5 million COVID-19 vaccine doses in a day starting November 20 to speed up the vaccination drive. 

The government's COVID-19 vaccination program started on March 1, but was only able to breach the one-million mark of doses administered in a day last November 4.

The Philippines is hoping to vaccinate 80% of its 109 million population by May 9, 2022 to achieve herd immunity against COVID-19.

Galvez reiterated his earlier statement that now that the country has sufficient vaccine supply, vaccination against COVID-19 should be made mandatory for the safety of everybody.

"When there is danger during typhoons, there is forced evacuation for the welfare of the people. This mandatory vaccination is needed because otherwise, it will put our economy and our health at risk," he said. —KBK, GMA News