To further speed up the immunization program against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the national government is targeting to open all 3,000 vaccination sites to the public for 24 hours a day and seven days a week, a task force official disclosed Sunday, May 23.
"Nakatutok na tayo dyan. Ang pinaparami pa natin ay public-private partnerships natin dahil karamihan ng pagtaas ng ating bilang ay nakalagay ngayon sa private sector facilities, itong malls na mas kumportable ang tao na nakapila (We are focusing on that. What we are increasing now is our public-private partnerships since the increase could be mostly attributed to the in private sector facilities such as malls where people line-up comfortably)," said retired Maj. Gen. Restituto Padilla Jr., spokesperson of the National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19.
This, as the National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) listed another record-high daily vaccination tally last May 21 where a total of 237,984 vaccine doses were administered in a single day. It broke the previous record of 229,769 administered doses on May 20.
Once all the vaccination sites are opened 24/7, Padilla said the government is a step closer to its target of vaccinating 500,000 people a day or three million per week to achieve herd immunity by November.
"Iyan ang tinatarget natin kasi gusto nating mas maging mainam at maayos ang ating kapaskuhan ngayon taon na ito (That's what we are targeting because we want to have a better and more organized Christmas this year)," Padilla said.
However, the idea of opening the vaccination sites 24/7 is easier said than done. Padilla said among the considerations include the manpower that will operate the vaccination sites.
"'Yung 24/7 na rollout maaaring gawin 'yan basta mayroon tayong angkop na bilang ng volunteers at magmaman ng vaccination centers (The 24/7 rollout is achievable as long as we have sufficient volunteers and people who will man the vaccination centers," he explained.
Last Tuesday, May 18, three lawmakers in the House of Representatives filed a bill which seeks to include dentists and medical technologists as among the healthcare workers who can administer a COVID-19 vaccine.
House Bill No, 9345 was filed by Quezon Province Rep. Angelina Tan, Quezon City Rep. Kit Belmonte, and Marikina City Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo as they highlighted the need to augment the current list of medical professionals who are authorized to inject the COVID-19 vaccine.
Padilla said the proposition was already forwarded to the National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG) and the pool of experts is already studying it.
"Nasa poder na po ng NITAG ito pinaguusapan na. Kami ay natutuwa at narinig natin ang feedback sa ating mga dentista at iba pang healthcare workers na hindi nasa kategorya na nakarelate sa pagbabakuna ngayon (It is already with the NITAG and they are discussing this already. We are happy to hear the feedback of our dentists and other healthcare workers who are not in the category related to our vaccination program)," Padilla said.
"Willing naman po ang ating professionalas at malaki po ang tulong na maibibigay nila. Kung sakaling magkaroon ng ganoong arrangement, dadagdag sila sa bilang ng maaaring magbakuna at dadami pa ang mababakunahan sa isang araw (Our professionals are willing and they will be a big help to us. If ever that arrangement is approved, they will add to the current list of those who can administer a vaccine and the number of individuals who can get vaccinated per day may further increase)," he added.