In order to expand its vaccination services, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) is planning to establish at least three vaccination centers in each chapter nationwide.

“The Red Cross has the manpower, the resources, and the compassion to reach out to our people and prevent them from getting sick,” PRC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Richard J. Gordon said in a statement issued Saturday, May 15.

The “PRC Bakuna Centers” Gordon said, will have a manpower complement of 3,300 trained volunteers.

These include doctors, nurses, and staff to administer the vaccine to frontline healthcare workers, senior citizens, persons with co-morbidities, and economic frontline workers according to the guidelines of the Department of Health (DOH).

Gordon said that PRC is currently mobilizing its chapters nationwide to establish and get accreditation for “PRC Bakuna Centers.” This, he noted, aims to immediately support the national government’s immunization efforts.

There are 103 PRC chapters nationwide. Gordon said the government must also intensify its immunization efforts and noted that the PRC is “willing and ready” to help the government in reinforcing the country’s defense against the virus through vaccination.

“We need to alleviate the suffering of our COVID-19 patients by setting up facilities that will give them the best medical care, which fully vaccinated and wholly supported healthcare workers can help provide,” Gordon said.

PRC is also pushing for the inclusion of the frontliners’ family and other household members in the government’s prioritization list.

“It is crucial that we also uplift the dignity of our workers who hold the frontlines against this deadly virus to provide for their families and serve the nation,” Gordon said.