Preparation for COVID vaccination rollout in CAR on track, DOH reports
By Carlito C. Dar
BAGUIO CITY, Feb. 11 (PIA) – – Preparations for the rollout of the COVID – 19 national vaccination program in the Cordillera Region are moving as scheduled with the Regional Task Force Vaccination Operations Cluster chaired by the Department of Health Center for Health and Development (DOH – CAR) leading the way.
DOH – CAR Regional Director Dr. Ruby Constantino reported in a Kapihan media forum here on February 10 that preparatory activities are being done in in partnership with the different regional line agencies, local government units and other health sector stakeholders in the region.
“As we all know, COVID – 19 vaccine is on its way to us. The government assures that Filipinos will only be given vaccines that are safe and effective. Vaccination is free and will be made available for everyone starting with the high risk sectors – the health care workers and the senior citizens”, Constantino said.
For the DOH – CAR Regional Vaccination Operation Center, Dr. Anachris Kilakil reported that Cordillera has already the vaccination governance, command and control system and a draft macro – plan in place.
The World Health Organization’s Vaccine Readiness Assessment Tool that have the list of all requirements before the rollout of any new vaccine is already downloaded to the city and provincial local government units and health facilities in the region.
Baguio City, Apayao and Abra are already moving above 50 percent compliance so far, she added.
Kilakil also shared that trainings for the vaccination implementing units in Baguio City and all the CAR provinces were already completed last February 4, and some health facilities such as Saint Louis University Hospital and Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center are set for vaccination simulation exercises.
With the national vaccination and deployment plan and regional macro plan in place, DOH – CAR encourages LGUs to do micro planning and simulation exercises for the rollout of vaccination program in their localities, she added.
On the registration of accounts for eligible population of Priority A for the vaccination program which are the health workers, Kilakil informed that Cordillera is already at 58 percent completion with 88 out of the 158 health facilities in the region already encoded in the electronic information registration system. The data will be transferred to Department of Information and Communication Technology that was recently tasked by the NTF to handle the database.
Constantino reiterates the government’s call for public support to the immunization program given its importance to the country’s fight against the COVID pandemic.
“Vaccination is a vital tool to the country’s overall recovery. Vaccination coupled with mask wearing, hand washing and physical distancing will not only secure more Filipinos from COVID – 19, it will also allow us to resume work and other activities safely”, she stressed. (JDP/CCD-PIA CAR)
