BJMP: 92.18% of PDLs fully vaccinated vs. COVID-19

A total of 119,175 or 92.18% of persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) detained in jails overseen by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology have already been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, a BJMP official said Sunday.

Those who are awaiting their second dose represent 6.54%, while 6,215 or 4.81% have yet to be vaccinated, BJMP spokesperson Jail Superintendent Xavier Solda said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

"Ito ang sinasabi ng DOH na maisasama sa mga papabakunahan," he said.

(The [unvaccinated] are those who will be included in the upcoming vaccination as per the Department of Health.)

Solda added that the BJMP is coordinating with local government units to include the PDLs in the LGUs' vaccine allocation.

"Simula noong nag-start ang COVID-19 pandemic, may 5,019 cases ang naitala sa mga PDL," he said.

Of this number, 4,886 have fully recovered, 54 died, and only nine are active cases now, the BJMP spokesperson said.

There are currently 129,283 PDLs in BJMP jails, Solda said.

The BJMP continues to implement health and safety protocols to prevent the further transmission of COVID-19, he added.

It also is focusing on the health of PDLs, Solda said. The BJMP has purchased medicines and additional electric fans and exhaust fans, checked on the water supply, and is conducting daily disinfection and cleaning.

Solda admitted that 340 out of 475 BJMP facilities are congested, but that 135 are not. 

The Philippines on Saturday logged 525 new COVID-19 infections, increasing the nationwide tally to 3,673,717. —KG, GMA News