Many doctors offering clinics for gov't vax drive, says PMA chief

Many doctors have offered their clinics to be used as vaccination sites in the fourth "Bayanihan, Bakunahan" drive against COVID-19, the head of the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) said Thursday.

During the Laging Handa briefing, PMA president Dr. Benito Atienza said these doctors must coordinate with them and the Department of Health (DOH) first in accordance with existing protocols.

“Marami po tayong mga doctors na willing mag-extend ng kanilang tulong na gawin ang kanilang mga clinic ay vaccination site po. Nagpapalista na po kami sa mga doctor na makiisa dito sa ating vaccination ng ating mga kababayan, ito po ay para sa booster doses para sa mga 18 years old and above,” he said.

(We have many doctors who are willing to make their clinics as vaccination sites. We are already listing doctors who will join the vaccination drive.)

Atienza said clinics are only accomodating those 18 years old and above as COVID-19 vaccination for those aged 5 to 17 are usually conducted in hospitals since these have facilities for storing formulated vaccines.

“Sa 18 years old and above ay puwede na po ibigay sa mga clinic, dapat lang po nakalista sa Department of Health (DOH) at sa mga local government units (LGUs) po ang mga clinic ng doctor na ito,” he said.

(For aged 18 and above, they can be inoculated in clinics. The clinics must be listed with the DOH and the LGUs.)

“Meron po kaming proseso na dapat mag-sign po kung papayag po ang doctor na maging vaccination site ang kanyang clinic ay iko-coordinate namin yan sa DOH. At ang DOH iko-coordinate sa LGU para bigyan po sila ng sapat na supply ng bakuna, syringes, at saka iba pong mga paraphernalia yung mga sinasign po yung mga consent,” he added.

(We have a process that doctors must follow in order for their clinics to be part of the vaccination drive. They must coordinate with the DOH, and the DOH will coordinate with the LGU. This is so that these clinics will be given adequate supply of vaccines, syringes, and other paraphernalia.)

At least 1.8 million Filipinos are targeted to receive the anti-COVID primary and booster doses during the Bayanihan, Bakunahan 4, which is set from March 10 to 12, 2022.

The DOH earlier said the priority for the fourth national vaccination drive will be senior citizens who have not yet completed their primary dose series and those set for booster shots.

Fewer COVID-19 infections

Meanwhile, Atienza said more patients with non-COVID-related health concerns are now returning to hospitals and clinics, and that fewer healthcare personnel are now infected with COVID-19.

“Bumabalik na po yung mga doctor sa kanilang clinic na dati po eh natatakot mag-clinic at the same time yung mga pasyente ayaw bumalik sa clinic ng doctor pero ngayon bumabalik na po sila,” Atienza said.

(Doctors are now returning to their clinics whereas before they were afraid to do so. It's the same with patients.)

“At ngayon makikita po natin na yung mga naka-schedule na surgery at procedures na dapat gawin sa hospital ay bumabalik na sila at nakikita na sumisigla na yung mga ospital, hindi na yung nakikita natin dati na takot na takot ang mga pasyente na pumunta ng ospital. At saka nakakatuwa yung mga healthcare workers wala na masyadong nagkaka-COVID,” he added.

(We can now see that hospital operations, including surgeries and procedures, are back to normal, unlike before when patients were afraid to go to hospitals. And then fortunately, fewer healthcare workers are getting infected with COVID-19.)

He, however, urged the public to remain vigilant and observe minimum health protocols to prevent another spread of COVID-19 infections.

The Philippines on Wednesday logged the lowest COVID-19 daily tally this year with 580 new infections, bringing the country’s caseload to 3,669,283.

The DOH said the new infections brought the country’s active case count to 47,471. This is the lowest number of active cases since January 5, 2022.  —KBK, GMA News