DOH urges LGUs, BJMP to prioritize inmates in COVID-19 vaccination

The Department of Health (DOH) urged the different local government units (LGUs) and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) to also prioritize inmates in the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination program.
DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that inmates were also vulnerable to COVID-19 since they were in enclosed spaces.
"Kasama to sa priorities namin mula't mula naman. Ito kasi, ang mga PDLs (persons deprived of liberty) are in enclosed institutions and their vulnerability and risk to this infection is very high (That's part of our priorities since the beginning. This is because PDLs are in enclosed institutions and their vulnerability and risk to this infection is very high)," said Vergeire on Monday, Oct. 4.
"Amin pong hinihikayat ang ating local governments together with our BJMP na maging priority po natin itong ating pagbabakuna sa mga PDLs (We urge our local governments together with our BJMP to make this our priority to vaccinate PDLs) because they are at high risks, very vulnerable to this disease," she added.
As of Oct. 1, a total of 21,487 out of the 170,404 master listed persons deprived of liberty have been fully vaccinated, said Vergeire as she cited data from BJMP.
Meanwhile, 37,204 inmates received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
Vergeire said that they are ensuring the availability of vaccines for inmates.
"Kami po, together with other agencies are trying our best possible way para magkaroon ng equitable allocation ng bakuna (We, together with other agencies are trying our best to have an equitable allocation of vaccines)," she said.