DOH: Don’t turn 3-day vaccination drive into superspreader

Ilocos Norte residents receive COVID-19 vaccines in a mega vaccination facility in Laoag. | Photo courtesy of Ilocos Norte provincial government

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday urged those planning to get jabbed during the “Bayanihan Bakunahan” from Nov. 29 to Dec 1 to observe public health standards in order to prevent turning the nationwide activities into COVID-19 superspreader events.

Dr. Beverly Ho, concurrent director IV of the Health Promotion Bureau and the Disease Prevention and Control Bureau, said participants in the drive should not hesitate to tell one another to strictly abide by protocols.

“Respectfully, while in vaccination [centers], while waiting in queues, do not be shy to remind your fellow vaccinees to wear their mask properly, or to observe physical distancing—things like that,” Ho said in a television interview.

The government aims to administer 15 million COVID-19 jabs during the National Vaccination Days and all eligible sectors are encouraged to take part, whether they are starting or completing their primary immunization or getting booster shots.

Transmission possible

But a party list lawmaker, Barangay Health Workers Rep. Angelica Natasha Co, wondered why pharmacy chains and private clinics were not designated as vaccination sites, and why fewer persons with comorbidities were included in the priority list for additional shots.

“We have two fast food giants whose branches [will serve] as vaccination sites, but pharmacy chains’ outlets and thousands of private clinics [will not]. There is a major governance and policy aberration here,” Co said in a statement.

The DOH has repeatedly said that while vaccines were effective in protecting against severe COVID-19, minimum public health standards still had to be observed because inoculation did not prevent transmission of the coronavirus.

“Our health-care workers … will be wearing personal protective equipment. But we want to remind those who will get vaccinated not to let go of minimum public health standards. Please wear your mask, observe physical distancing, bring hand sanitizer,” Ho said.

And while walk-ins are allowed, especially senior citizens and persons with comorbidities. preregistration at local government units (LGUs) is highly encouraged to avoid crowding, she said.

Accelerate vaccination

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire called on “every eligible individual, especially our ‘lolo’ and ‘lola,’ and our loved ones who have underlying medical conditions … to take advantage of these National Vaccination Days and get your jabs done.”

Vergeire said the drive would also be “an opportunity to accelerate” giving booster shots to health-care workers, senior citizens and the immunocompromised.

“Protecting our health through vaccination will increase our confidence to go out and see our loved ones this Christmas, as well as ensure a safe return to work,” she said.

The DOH earlier said 85 percent of hospital admissions due to COVID-19 “are not fully vaccinated,” based on its analysis of hospital data from March 1 to Nov. 14 from reports submitted to the DOH Data Collect system.

Vergeire said prospective recipients of the primary dose series should bring any valid ID. A medical certificate is required for the immunocompromised, persons with comorbidities, pregnant women in their first trimester, and children with comorbidities, and additional documents for the rest of the pediatric population.

Those requiring booster or additional doses must bring their original vaccination card, valid ID and a medical certificate for the immun0compromised.

Co said that while the involvement of Jollibee and McDonald’s as vaccination sites was “great,” drugstores and clinics in schools and in malls must also be involved.

‘Creative solution’

“Mayors and governors can intervene and correct this aberration given that the Inter-Agency Task Force on (the Management of) Emerging Infectious Diseases chooses not to, or is too slow at doing so,” Co said.

She said involving the pharmacies and clinics in the drive was a “creative solution” to low vaccination rates.

Early this month, Jollibee and Mcdonald’s Philippines offered their branches as venues to encourage more Filipinos to get jabbed. They will work with LGUs in key cities outside Metro Manila.

Co also questioned recent guidelines on COVID-19 third dose and boosters to persons with comorbidities, which prioritized immunocompromised persons.

The lawmaker wondered why persons with respiratory, cardiovascular, neurological and obesity comorbidities were not included.

She said those afflicted with asthma, allergies, hypertension, epilepsy, etc. should also be given booster shots.But while the government has shifted to high gear in preparing for the vaccination drive, it is still lacking 50,895 of the 160,000 nationwide volunteers it is supposed to mobilize.

In a statement on Thursday, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., chief implementer of the National Task Force Against COVID-19, said the government had only tapped 17,242 volunteers and 30 teams of the military to be assigned in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.

More volunteers from other uniformed services and government agencies are needed. Interested parties may register at bit.ly/3Cskjwg. —With a report from Dexter Cabalza