DAVAO CITY – From contact tracing, the local government is now eyeing the use of the QR code system for the registration of residents to its vaccination program.

“Paperless ang atoang approach (Our approach is paperless) and you will use your DQR for that. It’s the same account that you will use,” Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte said in an interview with the Davao City Disaster Radio Monday, Feb. 1.

Duterte said the special team of the vaccination cluster of the Davao City COVID-19 Task Force was scheduled to meet with the developer to discuss on "how to use the DQR (SafeDavao QR) to accommodate the use of the vaccination program. This, she said, will avoid the crowding of people in areas for registration.

Duterte also said that the Davao City COVID-19 Task Force, which used to focus on the COVID-19 response, was restructured to include vaccination and recovery component. She this is to align the local government's response to the action plan of the national government.

The special team for the vaccination cluster will be headed former City Health Office (CHO) head Dr. Joy Villafuerte, who retired on January 29.

Duterte also cautioned the public to manage their expectations when it comes to vaccination.

“Kinahanglan siguro i-manage sa mga tawo ilang mga expectations. Kay pag musulti ta nga dunay bakuna na muabot, it does not mean nga mabakunahan na tang tanan, okay? Because kanang bakuna nga muabot sa national government, syempre ila nang tunga-tungaon sa tibuok nasud. Dili lang Davao City ang ilang tagaan og bakuna (People must manage their expectations. When we say vaccines are arriving, it does not mean everybody will be vaccinated, okay? The vaccines coming from the national government, they will distribute them to the entire country. Not only Davao City will be given vaccines).”

She said the all health workers in hospitals and allied medical institutions who are working on confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients will be prioritized once the vaccines arrive.

“Sila jud ang mauna nato so that maprotektahan nato atong mga health care workers.Kung duna may muabot and it’s in a very limited supply, all the health workers in the hospitals, both public and private, and all those working in medical institutions like dialysis and rehabilitation centers nga possibly makaatubang og mga COVID-19 suspects ang unang mabakunahan (They will be immunized ahead of us so we can protect our health care workers. If vaccines arrive in a very limited supply, all the health workers in the hospitals, both public and private, and all those working in medical institutions like dialysis and rehabilitation centers who will possibly encounter COVID-19 suspects will be vaccinated first),” she added.

Duterte also said that while it has been reported that the vaccines from the national government will arrive this month, there is yet no exact date, volume of doses, nor brand of the vaccine given to the city.