More issues on vax registration than actual vaccination- Villafuerte

DAVAO City, June 22 (PIA)- The Local Vaccine Czar admitted there are more issues on the registration than the actual vaccination. 

 

Dr. Josephine Villafuerte, Head of the Vaccination Program said the District Health Offices can no longer bear calling one by one those who registered for vaccination. 

 

“Before they gave priority to their first 500 registrants from their district before they accommodated the walk-ins,” she said. 

 

Villafuerte also observed that the SafeDQR system of registration does not have the capability to inform the public as to when their vaccinations would be. 

 

She said the one creating the system assured a solution to the problem but to no avail. 

Villafuerte said the Philippine Long Distance Company has offered to help them on the text blasts to inform the vaccinees of their schedule. 

 

She called for understanding from the public.

 

Villafuerte bared that all vaccination sites in the city administer Pfizer Biontech vaccines, a COVAX facility under the World Health Organization. 

 

She said these vaccines are currently given to medical frontliners A1, senior citizens A2, and persons with comorbidities A3.  

 

Villafuerte said that since June 18, 27,000 have been vaccinated or ten % of the population before reaching herd immunity. 

 

She hoped that by October-November 2021 the herd immunity will be reached. 

 

Villafuerte bared that currently seventeen vaccination sites and six hospitals or 23 vaccination sites handle the vaccination roll out. 

 

She said every vaccination site does not lower its vaccinees at 500 per day. 

 

Villafuerte stressed that the NO WALK-IN POLICY is implemented in these sites. 

 

She also observed that they also implement the minimum public health standard all the time at the vaccination sites. 

 

Villafuerte said those administered with Sinovac were those receiving the second dose, while the Sinovac which will be used for the A4 category. 

 

She surmised no instruction yet from the higher ups as to when Astra Zeneca vaccines will arrive since second dose of Astra Zeneca vaccines will be in August, 2021. 

The city's vaccine program head explained if ever there will be an excess of the Pfizer Biontech vaccines, it will be given to the less privileged sector of the society or the A5 or indigent population.  

 

She disclosed that it is an instruction from the COVAX of the World Health Organization for indigents and 4ps beneficiaries’

 

Villafuerte said that next week, the A4 category will commence vaccination when the vaccines are available.  (PIA XI-JSGD)