DOH facilitated hiring of 215 add’l COVID – 19 vaccinators for CAR
By Carlito C. Dar
Baguio City Congressman Mark Go and his wife, Soledad Go, show support to the country’s COVID-19 vaccination program as they get their shot of Sinovac vaccine. They encourage the public to register for vaccinations, as the FDA approved vaccines are free, safe and effective. . (Office of Congressman Go photo)
BAGUIO CITY, May 20(PIA) – – The Department of Health Center for Health and Development Cordillera, through the different provincial/city DOH offices, facilitated the hiring of additional nurses and midwives to help in the Coronavirus disease (COVID – 19) vaccination program in the region.
Based on the Regional Vaccination Operations Center data, 215 additional vaccinators composed of 185 nurses and 30 midwives were hired for the vaccination program in the different provinces and Baguio City.
Per geographical area, 57 (52 nurses and 5 midwives) were hired for Abra; 16 (12- 4) for Apayao; 43 (39-4) for Baguio City; 21 (19-2) for Benguet; 24 (19-5) for Ifugao; 31 (25- 6) for Kalinga, and 23 (19- 4) for Mountain Province.
The hiring of the additional vaccinators started during the rollout of the vaccination program in March and is initially funded under the Bayanihan 2. The health department is now looking for additional funding to extend their employment contract beyond June 2021.
DOH – CAR Assistant Regional Director and COVID – 19 spokesperson Dr. Amelita Pangilinan said the hiring of additional human resources supports the implementation of the COVID – 19 vaccination program in the LGUs.
Health personnel from the different LGUs in Cordillera are also working on COVID – 19 response activities, thus with the hired nurses and midwives, there are health personnel who will focus on the vaccination activities, she explained.
On the COVID – 19 vaccination rollout, the RVOC reported that as of May 18 data, there are already 52,256 eligible population in the region who were vaccinated with their first dose of vaccine with 38,190 and 19,066 receiving Sinovac and AstraZeneca vaccines, respectively.
Of the 52,256 vaccinated individuals, 35,019 are Priority A1 – Frontline Health Workers; 14,396 are Priority A2 (senior citizens) and 7,831 belong to Priority A3 (adults with co-morbidity). There are also 10 individuals from Priority A4 who were vaccinated during the nationwide ceremonial vaccination of minimum wage earners and Overseas Filipino Workers in celebration of Labor Day.
Based on RVOC May 18 data, there are also 20,928 eligible population from priority groups A1, A2 and A3 who already completed their two doses of Sinovac vaccine. (JDP/CCD-PIA CAR)
