The Department of Health (DOH) said it is up to the local government units in areas affected by typhoon Odette if they will offer coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination in evacuation sites.
DOH Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said that the priority right now is relief and rescue operations.
“Depende yan sa LGU kung ano yung concentration nila (It depends on the LGU what their concentration is)...The concentration now is the relief and rescue operation. Kagaya ng ibang bakunahan noon sa evacuation centers----nagbibigay tayo ng measles (In the past, we offered in the evacuation centers the measles vaccines),” said Cabotaje in an interview over radio DZBB on Sunday, Dec. 19.
“Tingnan natin ngayon kasi... baka ayaw pa magpabakuna nung lahat ng nandoon kasi yung side effects---- baka magkaroon ng headache, sakit ng kasukasuan but it will be a case to case basis niyan sa ating mga bakunahan (Let's see first because some might be hesitant to get vaccinated because of the side effects like headache or body ache but the vaccination will be a case to case basis),” she added.
The DOH is still conducting an assessment of whether or not there are COVID-19 vaccines that were damaged in typhoon affected areas, said Cabotaje.
“Sa 6, 7, 8 walang communications but in the other regions may mga ibang areas na nagreport na wala namang mga damage (In 6, 7, 8 there are no communications yet but in the other regions--- there are other areas that reported no damage in )” she said.
“Nakikipag ugnayan pa rin tayo kasama ng ating OCD , even our military para tumulong sa pagtingin kung ayos ang kalagayan ng ating mga bakuna (We are still coordinating with OCD, even our military to determine the condition of our vaccines ),” she added.