DOH: Vax drive in Odette-hit areas up to LGUs, relief work a priority

The local government units stricken by Typhoon Odette have the "judgment call" to pursue COVID-19 vaccination efforts in evacuation centers but for now they must focus on providing aid to constituents, Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said Sunday.

"Depende yan sa LGU kung ano concentration nila. Relief and rescue operation ang concentration," Cabotaje said over Super Radyo dzBB.

(It depends on the LGU on their concentration. Relief and rescue operations are our concentration.)

Before vaccinating evacuated people, Cabotaje said possible side effects must be assessed.

"Tingnan natin ngayon baka ayaw pa magpabakuna kasi 'yung side effects baka magkaroon ng headache, sakit ng kasukasuan but it will be a case to case basis sa bakunahan," she said.

(Let's study first because they might not want to get vaccinated due to side effects such as headache, body ache but the vaccination will be a case to case basis.)

Total jabs administered

During the three-day second round of vaccination drive, Cabotaje said the government administered 2.3 million COVID-19 vaccine doses from December 15 to December 17. 

"[Around] 1.1 million [jabs] sa first day, 759,000 [jabs] second day tapos 544,000 [jabs] ng third day,"  said Cabotaje

These administered jabs include boosters, first dose and second dose as well as vaccination of the pediatric population or those aged 12 to 17 years old.

The national government suspended the second leg of vaccination in calamity-hit areas and moved it to December 20 to 22. —LBG, GMA News