FILE PHOTO: A hospital worker walks past a colorful mural honoring frontliners painted in front of the Mission hospital in Pasig City. INQUIRER/ MARIANNE BERMUDEZ
MANILA, Philippines — The government is in talks with the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) for the provision of COVID-19 vaccines in private clinics, an adviser of the National Task Force (NTF) against COVID-19 said Friday.
NTF adviser Dr. Ted Herbosa said the PMA has volunteered its 80,000 members to help boost the government’s vaccination drive.
“‘Yung Philippine Medical Association ino-offer nila ‘yung kanilang 80,000 members para tumulong sa national government para magbigay ng bakuna sa kanilang mga pasyente. Pinag-uusapan namin ngayon ‘yung coordination para madistribute by chapter at tsaka by region ‘yung mga bakuna na pwedeng ibigay sa kanilang private clinic,” he said at the Laging Handa public briefing.
(The PMA has offered their 80,000 members to help the national government in providing vaccines to their patients.) We are now coordinating with them to distribute the vaccines by chapter and region in their private clinics.)
“Magandang tulong ito. Nakita natin ‘yung success ng pagbabakuna sa botika. In fact na-exceed ‘yung targets namin, so we expect itong pagtulong ng private sector malaking bagay ito sa paglawak ng ating mga kailangan pang mabakunahan,” he added.
(This is a big help. We saw the success of vaccination in pharmacies. In fact, we exceeded our targets, so we expect that the help of the private sector will significantly contribute to the expansion of our vaccination efforts.)
Vaccination of booster shots at select privately owned pharmacies and clinics started in January.
The government is tentatively set to launch the fourth mass vaccination drive dubbed as “Bayanihan, Bakunahan” on March 10 to 12.