Senior citizens and select immunocompromised individuals can bring one household member in their vaccination schedule --- and their companion can be allowed to receive the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine, the Department of Health (DOH) said.
DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that the “Plus 1” strategy for A2 (senior citizens) and A3 (persons with comorbidities) priority groups was approved by the national government to encourage more senior citizens to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
“Para mas mahikayat natin ang mga lolo at lola, pinapayagan ng national government na pwede silang magdala ng isang kasambahay, isang kamag-anak o kung sino man ang kasama nila sa bahay ang maaaring pumunta na kasama niya para siya ay makapagpabakuna (To further encourage our senior citizens to get vaccinated, he or she is allowed to bring one household member for vaccination),” said Vergeire in an online forum on Wednesday, Aug. 18.
Meanwhile, Vergeire said that not all members of the A3 priority group can bring a “Plus 1.”
“Ang mga papayagan lang na magdala na mga A3 ng Plus 1 would be those A3 na immunocompromised ang kanilang kondisyon at mahihirapan silang pumunta sa bakunahan (Individuals under A3 who will be allowed to have a Plus 1 are those in immunocompromised stage and it will be difficult for them to get to the vaccination site),” said Vergeire.
“Katulad ng may mga cancer and undergoing chemotherapy, nagpa-transplant, and iyong ibang kababayan natin na merong mababang resitensya at medyo frail sila sa ngayon (Like those with cancers and undergoing chemotherapy, had (organ) transplants, and others that have a weak immune system or are frail),” she added.
As of Aug. 15, a total of 3,691,663 senior citizens have been fully vaccinated, while 747,573 are partially vaccinated. Meanwhile, a total of 4,738,847 people with comorbidities are now fully immunized, while 1,609,682 are partially vaccinated, based on the data of the DOH.