The Department of Health (DOH) encouraged local government units (LGUs) to provide free shuttle services to COVID-19 vaccination sites to encourage more people, especially senior citizens to get vaccinated.
DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that such an initiative will make vaccination more accessible.
“Marami sa ating nakakatanda ay mahina na po at hindi na po makalabas ng bahay para pa pumunta sa vaccination site (Many of our senior citizens are already weak and can no longer leave the house to go to the vaccination site),” she said on Saturday, June 5.
“Kung maaari lang may mga shuttle buses that can take our senior citizens or other eligible vaccinees doon sa vaccination sites para mawala po itong mga challenges na ito at mas bumilis at dumami ang pwede nating bakunahan (If possible provide shuttle buses that can take our senior citizens or other eligible vaccinees to the vaccination sites so that these challenges will be addressed and we can vaccinate more people),” she added.
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Vergeire also identified internet connectivity as one of the factors why some have yet to register in the COVID-19 vaccination program.
“Some families do not have internet connectivity para makapagpa-masterlist sila. Pangalawa, yung ating mga nakakatanda, especially if they are not living with their families, hirap po silang pumasok sa mga ganitong klaseng application (Some families do not have internet connectivity to get registered. Secondly, our seniors, especially if they are not living with their families, find it difficult to make these types of applications),” the health official said.
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Vergeire said that LGU personnel may do house-to-house visitation to register the senior citizens in the vaccination program or set up registration sites.
“They can set up post for masterlisting, hindi kailangan ang nakakatanda o yung may comorbidity ang gumawa sa bahay nila, maaring magkaroon ng accessible na post kung saan may gagawa ng pagmamasterlist sa kanila na malapit sa kanilang mga tahanan (They can set up posts for masterlisting. There can be an accessible post where someone will do the masterlisting for our senior citizens and those with comorbidities),” she added.
The total number of administered COVID-19 vaccines nationwide stood at 5,180,721, wherein 1,206,371 individuals have already completed their two doses, while 3,974,350 people received their first dose, data from National Task Force against COVID-19 on May 31 showed.