The Department of Health (DOH) reiterated its call to all eligible Filipinos to participate in the government's national vaccination drive against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) from Nov. 29 to Dec.1.
“The massive vaccination drive aims to increase vaccine coverage and mobilize stakeholders from every sector to support the national government’s goal of giving Filipinos a safe and healthy Christmas,” the DOH said in a statement on Friday, Nov. 26.
Senior citizens and those with comorbidities were highly encouraged to join the vaccination event.
“Protecting our health through vaccination will increase our confidence to go out and see our loved ones this Christmas, as well as ensure a safe return to work,” said DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.
“We encourage every eligible individual, especially our lolo and lola, and our loved ones who have underlying medical conditions who are not yet vaccinated, to take advantage of these National Vaccination Days and get your jabs done,” she added.
The DOH said that 85 percent of the hospital admissions in the country due to COVID-19 “are not fully-vaccinated,” based on its analysis of hospital data from March 1 to Nov. 14 from reports submitted to the DOH Data Collect system.
It added that “deaths and serious outcomes are more likely to happen among unvaccinated patients with over 93.4 percent of them dying based on the reports gathered by DOH.”
“While the vaccines are effective in protecting us from severe COVID-19, we still need to be mindful and constantly observe minimum public health standards as available vaccines at this time do not prevent transmission of COVID-19,” said Vergeire.
Meanwhile, while walk-ins are allowed during the three-day event, the DOH encouraged vaccine recipients to register with their respective local government units.
“On the day of vaccination, recipients of primary dose series should bring any valid Identification Card (ID), medical certificate for immunocompromised, individuals with comorbidities, pregnant in their first trimester and children with comorbidities, and additional documents for the rest of pediatric population,” the DOH said.
“Vaccine recipients requiring booster/additional doses must bring their original vaccination card showing completion of the primary series of vaccine, valid ID Card, and medical certificate for immunocompromised individuals,” it added.