PNP ordered to prepare for COVID-19 vaccination of general public, minors

PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar. INQUIRER PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar has directed police officers to get ready for the vaccination of the general public and minors against COVID-19 starting October.

Eleazar stressed Tuesday the police’s continuing duty to secure and maintain order in vaccination sites. He also said more people would be vaccinated if untoward incidents in vaccination centers are prevented.

“Inatasan ko na ang ating kapulisan na maghanda para sa malawakang pagbabakuna sa susunod na buwan. Sa ganitong sitwasyon na mas marami na ang maaaring mabakunahan, mas kinakailangan ang serbisyo ng ating mga pulis upang masigurong maayos ang magiging sistema sa ating mga vaccination areas,” Eleazar said in a statement.

(I have already directed our police officers to prepare for the large-scale vaccination programs this coming month. In this situation where more people would be vaccinated against COVID-19, the services of our officers are more important and needed so that the systems in place would be implemented properly.)

“Hindi naman na bago para sa ating mga kapulisan ang pagtulong sa ating vaccination rollout. Tiwala ako na alam na nila ang gagawin upang masigurong nasusunod ang minimum health standards sa ating mga vaccination sites,” he added.

(It is nothing new for our police officers to help in the vaccination rollout. I believe that they understand what needs to be done to ensure that the minimum health standards in the vaccination sites are followed.)

On Tuesday, Malacañang announced that the country would start vaccinations for the general population next month after President Rodrigo Duterte approved the proposal.

READ: PH to open COVID-19 vaccination to general population in October 

Eleazar noted that aside from the PNP’s preparations, the PNP’s Medical Reserve Force was also ready to attend to COVID-19 patients as hospitals see a shortage of facilities and health workers.

In terms of vaccination, he said that dependents of police officers especially minors can also avail of COVID-19 vaccines inside police camps and facilities to ease the burden on the public vaccination sites.  He also told police officers to encourage people still hesitant about the COVID-19 vaccines to avail of the shots as soon as possible, to protect themselves from the disease.

“May mga kababayan pa rin tayo na hindi pa buo ang loob na magpabakuna. Maging instrument sana tayo upang mahikayat sila na maging protektado laban sa nakamamatay na COVID-19,” Eleazar told police officers.

(We still have a lot of fellow Filipinos who have not decided to get the vaccines.  I hope we can become instruments to encourage people to get protected against the deadly COVID-19.)

KGA