The Department of the Interior and Local Government Cordillera is urging local government units (LGUs) to take into consideration the safety and convenience of both the vaccination workforce and the vaccine recipients during torrential monsoon rains and flooding.
Araceli San Jose, DILG-CAR OIC- Regional Director on Friday said that LGUs should be prudent and ensure that the continued provision of vaccines would not result to the exposure of the general public to health risks posed by these natural hazards and other elements or factors detrimental to their safety.
“All LGUs are directed to re-assess their vaccination sites and ensure the safety and convenience of their constituents who would be vaccinated, and the vaccinators as well,” she said.
Adding, “LGUs must guarantee that vaccination sites including their outside premises and queuing areas, are safe and convenient, with little to no exposure to rains, floods, and other natural or man-made hazards,” she said.
OIC-RD San Jose noted that facilities in vaccination sites should be designed to give special accommodation to members of the A2 (senior citizens) and A3 (persons with comorbidities) groups, as well as persons with disabilities (PWDs).
“The LGUs should also ensure the scheduling and appointment system for COVID-19 vaccination is efficient and with definite time slots, designed to prevent long lines and unreasonable queuing,” she said.
Further the LGUs’ information and education and communication (IEC) campaigns should also, be in place to enhance the awareness of their constituents regarding safety protocols and service plans in vaccination sites.
Meanwhile, ‘mixing and matching’ of different COVID-19 vaccine brands is not allowed thus vaccine recipients shall only receive the recommended dose series from one COVID-19 vaccine brand as stipulated in the Emergency Use Authorization of the Philippine Food and Drug Administration; unless the vaccine recipient has an anaphylactic reaction to the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
(Pamela Geminiano, photo courtesy by Joseph Manzano, RPN DZBS Baguio OIC)