DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire talks with reporters via Zoom meeting in this file photo taken on April 23, 2020. INQUIRER.net file photo / Daphne Galvez
MANILA, Philippines — To ramp up the country’s immunization, the government may provide shuttles to transport unvaccinated individuals especially senior citizens and persons with comorbidities to the inoculation sites if needed.
The second national vaccination program is set from December 15 to 17.
“Ito pong parating namin na 15 to 17 na (This coming 15 to 17) vaccination days again, we’ll now be focusing, aside from the rest of the population, we will now focus on the unvaccinated,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said on One News’ The Chiefs on Monday.
She added that volunteers will focus on areas with low inoculation accomplishments especially for A2 and A3 or senior citizens and persons with comorbidities.
To increase the number of vaccinations, Vergeire shared that they may use shuttles to assist unvaccinated individuals to immunization sites or go to the houses of the elderly who cannot go out.
“Pangalawa, titignan din po natin kung ano ‘yung mga mechanisms that we can provide so that we can facilitate kung kailangan ng shuttle going to the vaccination site, kung kailangan puntahan yung mga matatandang ‘di na makalabas ng bahay, gagawin natin ‘yan,” she said.
(Second, we will look into the mechanisms that we can provide so that we can facilitate if they need a shuttle to the vaccination site or if we need to go to the elderly who cannot go out, we’ll do that.)
Meanwhile, Vergeire reiterated that DOH is in favor of mandatory COVID-19 vaccination but for specific sectors only and not the whole community.
Vergeire said that the specific sectors include those providing health care and frontline services.
“Pero ‘pag sa DOH po, ang posisyon namin, kung saka-sakaling magkakaroon tayo ng batas, kami po aayon na for specific sectors only, not the whole community katulad po ng mga taong nagca-care for patients, sa healthcare facilities, that is your moral obligation. Magpabakuna ka para protektado ang pasyente mo, protektado ka rin because you’re a healthcare worker,” Vergeire said.
(For DOH, our position is that if there would be a law, we would favor mandatory vaccination for specific sectors only, not the whole community, like those caring for patients and those in healthcare facilities, that is your moral obligation. Get vaccinated to protect your patient and yourself because you’re a healthcare worker.)
“Halimbawa po, frontliner kayo, kayo po ay nagbabantay ng mga borders natin, para rin sa proteksyon niyo ‘yan, para rin sa proteksyon ng mga taong makakasalamuha,” she added.
(For instance, you are a frontliner, you are guarding our borders, for your protection and the protection of the people you interact with.)
The health official likewise noted that private establishment owners have the authority to only accept individuals who are vaccinated only.
However, Vergeire said that if local government units would be the ones to impose a prohibition on unvaccinated individuals, it may be an issue.
“Pero with regard to the local governments not allowing the community to go outside of their houses, I think mayroon ho tayong kailangan pag-usapan diyan (a discussion is needed), especially legally, so Department of Justice might be able to give us a better answer to that,” she said.
Cebu City has earlier announced that it will restrict the movement of unvaccinated residents beginning January 1.
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