More volunteers needed for 3-day national vaccination drive

The government is still seeking volunteers for the three-day national vaccination drive from November 29 to December 1.

National Vaccines Operation Center (NVOC) head and Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said at least 5,000 volunteers have passed the application, with 24,000 more applications pending. This does not yet include those who have directly contacted their local government units (LGU).

There are three types of volunteers, according to Ian Cruz’s “24 Oras” report on Thursday: the health professionals who will conduct the screening, vaccination, and monitoring of those who will be vaccinated; the data encoders; and the ushers and security.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire earlier said they need health screeners, vaccinators, post-vaccination monitoring personnel, health educators, registration personnel, data consolidators, and encoders.

Those who are interested in volunteering may scan the QR code or click the link on the official social media accounts of the Department of Health (DOH).

Meanwhile, pharmacist Rosemarie Quinio has volunteered in various vaccination sites to inoculate residents against COVID-19 since August. She did not hesitate to register in the three-day vaccination drive.

“Bale sa Manila LGU pa rin po ako ilalagay baka po sa mga private schools kami ilagay na sites pero willing naman ako kung sakali na kahit sa ibang lugar kahit sa province okay lang,” Quinio said.

(I will be assigned in Manila LGU, maybe in private schools which will serve as vaccination sites, however, I am willing to be designated in other places, even in the province.)

The government seeks to administer five million doses daily during the three-day national vaccination campaign.

As of now, almost 34.5 million are now fully vaccinated individuals, while 43.8 million individuals received their first dose.

Cabotaje said the regions near the National Capital Region (NCR) are the biggest areas targeted to be vaccinated in the three-day drive.

“Binigyan natin ng target ang Region 3 ng two million for the three days, at ang Calabarzon ang pinakamalaking rehiyon sa buong Pilipinas, three million for the three days,” Cabotaje said.

(We have targeted Region 3 to vaccinate two million individuals for the three days, and Calabarzon, which is the largest region in the country, to inoculate three million individuals for the three days.)

Vaccine Czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said there were at least 10 provinces and 42 cities that had vaccinated almost 70% of their population as of November 21.

There are 8,000 existing vaccination centers, which could reach 10,000 to 11,000 as some churches, schools, private clinics, and fast food chains will be used as vaccination centers.

The country officially rolled out its vaccination program on March 1. — Richa Noriega/BM, GMA News