An elderly woman gets her vaccination in her home via Angeles City’s mobile clinic. (Photo from the Angeles City government)
MANILA, Philippines — Around 750 local government units (LGUs) are now doing house-to-house vaccination against COVID-19 to ramp up inoculation against the severe respiratory illness, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said Wednesday.
Galvez said local governments are already dismantling vaccination sites since people are no longer going to the sites. Instead, barangays (villages) and city health officers bring the vaccine to the people.
“Pumupunta na talaga sila sa mga bara-barangay at tinatanggal na nila ‘yung mga mega vaccination sites kasi nakikita nilang nagiging empty at walang nagpupunta,” he said in a Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum.
(They are going to barangays and taking down the mega vaccination sites because these are now empty and no one is going to them anymore.)
Galvez, however, admitted that there are logistical issues involved in house-to-house vaccinations since these require a lot of mobilization.
There is also a risk of vaccine wastage during the transit of the doses or during the inoculation itself.
Galvez said the government is now finalizing additional guidelines for the implementation of house-to-house vaccinations so that all local government units can conduct it.
“Lahat ng LGU, gawin campaign ‘yung vaccination kasi nandoon pa rin ‘yung danger ng possible rising of cases in the near future,” he said.
(All LGUs must conduct house-to-house vaccination because there is still the danger of a possible rise in cases in the near future.)
The World Health Organization (WHO) earlier urged LGUs to use “last mile” approaches to COVID-19 vaccination. These include house-to-house vaccinations to further reach those still unvaccinated.
President Rodrigo Duterte also ordered the conduct of house-to-house vaccinations, suggesting that doses that are nearing expiry can be used in the drive.