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Dizon: Only boosters will be given at pharmacies during pilot run


Only COVID-19 booster shots will be given at selected pharmacies during the pilot run of the “Resbakuna sa mga Botika” program in the National Capital Region (NCR), the National Task Force (NTF) said Wednesday.

Deputy Chief Implementer Vince Dizon said eligible individuals may get vaccinated for their primary doses and booster doses at the selected clinics.

”Sa pilot natin, boosters muna sa ating mga botika. Sa mga clinic, puwede ‘yung primary dose at second dose, pati ang booster,” Dizon said at the Laging Handa briefing.

(During the pilot, boosters will be given at the pharmacies. At the clinics, we can give a primary dose and second dose as well as a booster.)

According to the NTF, all individuals aged 18 and above, aside from senior citizens and individuals with comorbidities, can get their COVID-19 vaccine through the program.

The NTF said the participating pharmacies and clinics will be opened in the following days and times:

  • Generika Drugstore in Signal 1, Taguig (Thursday, 10 AM)
  • Mercury Drug in Pres. Quirino Avenue, Malate, Manila (Thursday, 10 AM)
  • Southstar Drug in Marikina (Thursday, 10 AM)
  • Watsons in SM Supercenter Pasig (Thursday, 10 AM)
  • Healthway in Manila (Friday, 10 AM)
  • QualiMed Clinic in McKinley Road, Makati (Friday, 10 AM)
  • The Generics Pharmacy in Edison St. Sun Valley, Parañaque (Friday, 10 AM)

Dizon said the Rose Pharmacy in Visayas and Mindanao will also be included.

The rollout will begin on Thursday, January 20 and Friday, January 21.

“Ang aming plano ay araw-araw po once na magsimula ang isang botika ay tuloy-tuloy na yan. Araw-araw at tuloy-tuloy ang pag supply ng gobyerno,” he said.

(Our plan is that once a pharmacy starts, it will continue. The government will continuously supply them with vaccines.)

According to Dizon, walk-ins are allowed but they will still need to register online once at the pharmacies.

“May sistemang inayos ang ating DICT at ang ating DOH in partnership sa ating mga botika kaya pwede sila mag register onsite. Pero meron din sistema na magre-register sila online para mapadali,” Dizon said.

(The DICT and the DOH made a system in partnership with our pharmacies where they can register on-site. There is also a system to register online.)

According to Dizon, the pilot run may be held for at least a week.

“Mabilis lang po itong pilot natin siguro mga isang linggo lang ito at sa mga susunod na linggo, susunod na araw papalawakin na natin ito sa iba’t ibang siydad,” he said.

(The pilot will be fast, maybe a week and in the following weeks, following days, we will expand this to other cities.)

“Umpisahan muna sa mga siyudad and later on pati sa mga probinsya ay expand na natin itong programang ito,” he added.

(We will begin with other cities and later on with provinces.)

When asked if all brands will be available and vaccinees may choose a preferred vaccine brand, Dizon said yes.

“Opo, ibaba na po ngayong araw na ito. Iba-iba pong brand ‘yan. I-aannounce po ng mga botika kung ano ang mga brand na meron sa kanila,” he said.

(Yes, they will be delivered today. These are different brands. The pharmacies will announce what vaccine brands they have.)

As of January 16, around 55.1 million Filipinos have been fully vaccinated against the illness. — RSJ, GMA News

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