DICT: 50,000 more data encoders needed for 3-day nat’l vaccination drive

Vaccination. File photo

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) on Monday said that the country will need additional data encoders – at least 50,000 – for the planned three-day national COVID-19 vaccination drive from November 29 to December 1.

“Doon, kailangan po natin ng mga almost 50,000 data encoders para matulungan ang ating mga LGUs lalung-lalo na sa mga lugar na kulang ang kanilang mga marunong mag-encode,” said DICT USec. Manny Caintic in a live briefing.

(There, we will need almost 50,000 data encoders to help our LGUs, especially in areas where they lack the ability to encode.)

The DICT said it will post a sign-up sheet in the following days for those willing to be trained as data encoders in preparation for the upcoming National Vaccination campaign.

The mass vaccination drive, which aims to administer COVID-19 vaccines to 5 million people a day or 15 million individuals in three days would also take place during the commemoration of Bonifacio Day on November 30, a regular holiday.

READ: Gov’t to hold massive COVID-19 vaccination drive Nov. 29 to Dec. 1

Meanwhile, Philippine Medical Association President Dr. Benito Atienza disclosed that apart from the need to increase vaccination centers and encoders, the country will also need screeners during the campaign.

“Ang aim po nito ay at least 5 million a day kasi dadagdagan po ang vaccination centers, iyong capacity po ng area at saka dadagdagan din po ang mga encoders, kasi ang kailangan po natin ay mga screener, ang screener po ay mga doctor,” said Atienza.

(The aim is at least 5 million a day because we will increase the vaccination centers, the capacity of the area and then we will also increase the encoders, what we need are screeners, the screeners are doctors.)

He said that vaccination centers have been increased to 11,000 from 8,000.

“Hindi po kasama diyan ang NCR doon sa kuwentahan na iyan. At inaano po nga natin is iyong malalaking area ang pipiliin at ang pupunta na lang po sa mga ospital ay iyong mga may comorbidities. At inaasahan po namin na lahat po ng vaccinations areas ay may doktor,” said Atienza.

(NCR is not included in that account. And we are also pushing that the only ones who will go to the hospitals are those with comorbidities. And we hope that all vaccination areas have a doctor.)

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