Gov’t to open public, private clinics as vaccination sites — Duque

The government is planning to expand the vaccination sites in the country to also include public and private clinics in hopes to get more Filipinos vaccinated against COVID-19, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Tuesday.

In a Super Radyo dzBB interview, Duque said they are currently coordinating with the Philippine Medical Association regarding this initiative as part of the previously-launched “Resbakuna sa mga Botika” in January.

“Kausap na namin ‘yung Philippine Medical Association. Isa sa mga stratehiya na aming ipapatupad itong mga kilinika, both public at private na mga clinics, ay bubuksan na as vaccination sites,” he said.

[We are already talking to the Philippine Medical Association. One of the strategies we will implement is that these clinics, both public and private clinics, will be opened as vaccination sites.]

“Kung naalala ninyo, nung dalawang linggo nakaraan o tatlong linggo, ay inilunsad natin ‘yung Resbakuna sa Botika. Ngayon, ine-expand na natin ‘yung access even sa mga clinics sa mga communities para sa gayon ay mas madaling mapuntahan ng sinumang gustong magpabkauna at makakatulong ito sa pagtaas ng vaccination coverage,” he added.

[If you remember, two weeks or three weeks ago, we launched Resbakuna sa Botika. Now, we are expanding its access even to clinics in communities so that it will be easier for anyone who wants to get vaccinated to get the jab and this will also help increase our vaccination coverage.]

There were seven pharmacies and private clinics in Metro Manila that participated in the initiative’s pilot run on January 20.

Deputy Chief Implementer Vince Dizon of National Task Force Against (NTF) COVID-19 earlier said the “Resbakuna sa mga Botika” would greatly assist the local government units and the Department of Health  (DOH) to add more personnel to vaccinate against the viral disease. It will also help decentralize the vaccinations more instead of just being focused on big vaccination sites in certain areas.

The DOH reported on Monday that over 63.6 million individuals or 70.76% of the government’s target population are also fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Meanwhile, 10.5 million have received their booster shots.

The government is eyeing to fully vaccinate 77 million Filipinos against COVID-19 by the end of March, and 90 million by the time Duterte steps down from office on June 30. — RSJ, GMA News