Elder residents receive the jab of Astrazeneca vaccine at Barangay 672 Zone 73 in Paco, Manila on March 28, 2021, during the start of vaccination for senior citizens of the local government. RICHARD A. REYES / INQUIRER
MANILA, Philippines — Walk-in vaccinations for COVID-19 are only allowed for seniors in areas under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), the chairperson of the National Vaccine Operations Center (NVOC) said Tuesday.
In an online media briefing, Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said there should be strict compliance and implementation of the scheduling and pre-registration systems in areas under ECQ.
However, she added that “walk-ins shall not be allowed except for priority group A2,” referring to senior citizens.
“Pwede magwalk-in ang ating mga senior citizens. Priority sila kung saan pwede (Senior citizens are allowed to walk in. They will be prioritized in areas where walk-in vaccinations are allowed),” she added.
Data from the NVOC showed that 2.6 million or 32.57 percent of the 8.4 million target senior vaccinees were fully vaccinated so far. Meanwhile, 34.97 percent were partially vaccinated.
Cabotaje said scheduling and pre-registration will prioritize the elderly and persons with comorbidity during the ECQ.
Vaccination in medical centers and hospitals will also be temporarily suspended in areas under strict lockdown so that health workers attending to COVID-19 patients will not have to work as vaccinators.
Cabotaje said local government units can apply different strategies in bringing vaccination services nearer to target recipients, including quadrant or barangay zoning, using mobile vaccination buses, and deploying mobile vaccination teams, and establishing temporary post-vaccination sites.
“For transportation, we have encouraged LGUs to provide transportation service both to vaccine recipients and vaccination workforce. Points of pick-up will be announced,” she added.
Based on Resolution No. 130-A of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Gingoog City of Misamis Oriental, Iloilo province, Iloilo City, and Cagayan de Oro City remain under ECQ until August 7. Metro Manila will also be placed under the strictest quarantine status from August 6 to 20.
The country has so far administered 21 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines as of August 2. According to Cabotaje, 11.8 million Filipinos are partially vaccinated while 9.3 million are now fully vaccinated.
For the month of August, the government expects to receive around 22.7 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine, which will boost the country’s stockpile of anti-COVID shots to 56.5 million doses. The government aims to vaccinate some 70 million people to achieve herd immunity against the disease.