AFTER tapping drug stores as booster shot sites, the National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) is now looking at expanding the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) jabbing activities in stand-alone and corporate clinics.
In a television interview, Dr. Keiza Rosario of the NVOC said the government is looking at expanding its vaccine operations against COVID-19 to venues accessible to many people.
Rosario said standalone clinics are ideal since these have physicians, nurses, and other healthcare workers.
“We are exploring the use of medical clinics, or those clinics conducting executive check-ups. This can be integrated in their services,” she said.
She said they are also eyeing the use of company clinics, especially those in bigger establishments.
“We are also looking at the possibility of using occupational health offices of companies. We know they have their own clinics, especially the big ones. This can be part of their provision of services,” said Rosario.
“There are other avenues the government is looking to make use so we can broaden the vaccine operations by including the private sector,” said Rosario, adding: “We are looking at how we can integrate it to the usual practices of our different health service providers.”
Rosario’s announcement comes on the eve of the start of the administration of COVID-19 vaccines in selected pharmacies in Metro Manila.
Presidential adviser for COVID-19 response Vivencio Dizon said booster shots and COVID-19 vaccines to be given in pharmacies and private clinics will be free.
Dizon also said all brands of vaccines approved by the Food and Drug administration (FDA) will be made available to the drugs stores participating under the “Resbakuna sa Botika” program.
Dizon, during the Laging Handa public briefing, said four pharmacies will join the pilot implementation on January 2, while two clinics and one pharmacy will implement the pilot trial on January 21.
Pharmacies that will start administering booster shots today are Generika Drugstore in Signal Village, Taguig City; Mercury Drug Manila Malate Branch along Quirino Avenue corner Leon Guinto in Manila; Southstar Drug SSD Marikina Branch located Concepcion Uno, Marikina City; and Watsons SM Supercenter Pasig in Ortigas, Pasig City.
On Friday, the Healthway Manila Clinic at the Adriatico Tower in Ermita, QualiMed Health Network at the McKinley Exchange Corp. Center in Dasmariñas in Makati City, and The Generics Pharmacy (TGP) — Parañaque Branch in Sun Valley will join the pilot implementation.
The Rose Pharmacy will lead the pilot implementation in the Visayas and Mindanao after the trial in Metro Manila.
“With the current Omicron surge, it is imperative that we continue to look for more ways to get the vaccines closer to the people who need them. We thank the pharmacies and clinics for responding to the government’s call for support,” Dizon said.
He said the pilot run is likely to be just one week before it is expanded to other drug stores and clinics in Metro Manila and eventually in the rest of the country.
He said only booster shots will be administered during the weeklong trial in the pharmacies while booster shots and primary vaccines will be administered in private clinics.
Under the Resbakuna sa Botika program, local government units (LGUS) will maintain responsibility for the registration and documentation of vaccinees, as well as providing vaccines and ancillary supplies while the pharmacies will oversee vaccine administration.
Dizon said some LGUs may require pre-registration while walk-in will only be accepted if the vaccinees register personally with the pharmacy on the day of the implementation.
He said that individuals 18 years old and above, except for senior citizens and those with comorbidities, can avail of their booster shots in the pharmacies and boosters and primary doses in the private clinics.
Dizon said the private companies, meanwhile, will provide the vaccinator, aside from the vaccination area, but the Department of Health (DOH) is looking at possible incentives that can be given to the vaccinators.
He said the Resbakuna campaign complements the nationwide Bayanihan Bakunahan I held last November 29 until December 3, 2021 and the Bayanihan Bakunahan II last December 15 until 17, 2021 which was extended to December 27 until 29, 2021 for areas affected by Typhoon Odette.
NATIONAL VAX DAY 3
Dizon said a third “Bayanihan, Bakunahan National Vaccination Days” is possible once the surge in COVID-19 slows down.
Cabinet Secretary and acting presidential spokesman Karlo Nograles, in an interview with One Balita, said a nationwide “Bayanihan, Bakanahan” may be considered towards the end of the first quarter if the government is still too far from reaching its target of fully vaccinating 77 million Filipinos by then.
“It’s something we might consider. Let us wait for the output of the vaccination demand generation that we are doing now. But if we see the need, for example if the first quarter of 2022 is about to end and we have yet to reach the 77 million target, then perhaps it is one of the strategies that we can consider,” he said.
The COVID-19 Vaccination Dashboard showed that as of January 18, the country has administered 120.645 million vaccine doses nationwide. Of which, 59.255 million have received their first dose, 56.027 million are fully vaccinated, and 5.362 million have already received booster doses.
The government targets to fully vaccinate 77 million by the end of the first quarter and 90 million by the end of the second quarter.
BOOSTER FOR SINOPHARM
President Duterte did not experience or show any adverse effects after getting his booster shot, Nograles said.
The President, who received Sinopharm as his first dose in May 2021 and second dose in July 2021, mentioned last week that he already received his booster.
It was not clear about what brand was used as the Department of Health and the vaccine experts’ panel has yet to recommend a booster brand for those who received Sinopharm for their primary series.
Sinopharm vaccines used in the country were part of the vaccines donated by the Chinese government.
“Wala naman pong masamang epektong naidulot (ang Sinopharm) sa pagkaka-alam namin (There were no reported adverse side effect on the President as far as we know),” Nograles said.
He said the choice of booster brand was “something between him (Duterte) and his personal physician.” — With Jocelyn Montemayor
