DOJ wants to include PDLs in 3-day national vaccination campaign

The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday said it will ask the National Task Force Against COVID-19 to allow persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) to be included among those to receiving COVID-19 shots during the three-day national vaccination drive from November 29 to December 1.

"[T]he DOJ will request the national task force against COVID-19 headed by [Secretary Carlito] Galvez to include all PDLs in our prison facilities throughout the country in the massive vaccination drive scheduled on Nov. 29 - Dec. 1, 2021," Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said in a text message to reporters.

The DOJ pointed out that health risks of PDLs in crowded prisons must also be protected from the virus.

"I understand that we have millions of doses available for this big event, so this is the opportune time to consider the health of our PDLs who are at risk of infection due to prison overcrowding," Guevarra said.

The NTF is eyeing to vaccinate about 15 million individuals during the three-day drive in a bid to push the number of fully vaccinated individuals to 50%.

As of Monday, the Department of Health said 33.3 million individuals or 39% of the eligible population in the country are fully vaccinated against the COVID-19. — BM, GMA News