DOH backs proposal to set up walk-in lanes in vaccination sites

CROWD DRAWER Vaccination sites offering the US-made Pfizer jabs are drawing large crowds, such as this one outside the Prince Hotel in Ermita, Manila. Authorities have warned against potential superspreader events as the government ramps up the rollout of vaccines. —MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) is supportive of the proposal to set up walk-in lanes in COVID-19 vaccination centers for individuals who have yet to be scheduled for vaccination.

“Kung ito ay makakatulong, maaari naman po nating gawin ‘yan,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in an online press briefing on Friday when asked of the DOH’s take on the possible opening of walk-in lanes at vaccination sites.

(If this will help, we can do this.)

Vergeire said that at present, vaccination centers have a “silent” walk-in system for those in the quick substitution list, which contains the names of individuals who can substitute beneficiaries who don’t show up on their vaccination schedule.

“Ang usapan natin, kapag hindi dumating ang masterlisted mo na individual on the specific day na babakunahan siya, meron ka dapat agad-agad na matatawag na pwedeng bakunahan para hindi masayang ‘yung mga binuksan na doses ng bakuna. So these specific lanes for walk-ins maari po nilang gawin ‘yan,” said Vergeire.

(What we agreed upon is if the master listed individual does not go to the vaccination centers on the day of his or her schedule, there should be a substitute who can take the dose instead. So these specific lanes for walk-ins, they can do that.)

Some local government units in Metro Manila such as the cities of Manila and Marikina have expressed interest in putting up walk-in vaccination sites in order to cater to more individuals who have yet to be scheduled for vaccination.

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However, Vergeire stressed that LGUs should be able to organize this system to prevent crowding in vaccination centers.

“Dapat meron pa rin silang target number lang for a day kung ilan ang walk-in nila para hindi nagkakaroon ng crowding sa vaccination sites,” she added.

(They should have a specific number on how many walk-in individuals they can accommodate per day to prevent overcrowding in vaccination sites.)

The government earlier discouraged people from trooping to vaccination centers if it is not their schedule yet in order to prevent crowding that could trigger a “superspreader” event for coronavirus.

EDV