People should not be made to wait in vaccination line for long to avoid any exposure to the coronavirus disease and other illnesses.

President Duterte made the latest appeal to local government units as he pressed for the swift and equitable distribution of the coronavirus vaccines before the beneficiaries get sick and before the vaccines reach their expiry.

According to the President, local government units could use technology and other systems to make the vaccination process faster and more efficient.

"I also make this appeal (to) all our LGUs implementing the national vaccination program, we need to administer the vaccines quickly because we do not have a vaccine site to become a spreader in event," he said in a televised address Monday, May 31.

"Making them queue for an hour or longer exposes them to other risk. Please use technology and advanced approaches to make sure the entire process is more effective," he added.

As the government steps up its free inoculation drive, Duterte reminded local government officials to make sure the vaccination of people will be fast and orderly. The President is concerned that people might get sick while lining up for vaccination especially if done under the sun.

"Huwag mong pahirapan ‘yong tao na palinyahin ninyo (Don't make it hard for the people by compelling them to fall in line)," he added.

He suggested the distribution of number cards to beneficiaries with designated time of vaccination to ensure the process will be quick. He said the person can go to the vaccination site 15 minutes before his or her appointment.

"Huwag ninyong palinyahin init kasi eh magkakasakit rin ‘yan eh (Don't let them fall in line under the sun because they might get sick). It’s just the same. The very thing that you are trying to avoid will happen if you do not do that. Kaya ‘yang advanced approaches to make the entire process more effective is give them a card," he said.

The President also said the coronavirus vaccines must be distributed to the people as soon as possible before the vaccines expire. Once the vaccines reach the expiry date, he said the government will be compelled to throw them away.

"Ang shelf life ‘yong bakuna will expire on a certain day. And nakita ko the longest is about three, two months. Wala nang bisa ‘yan, itatapon na ‘yan (They are no longer effective and will be thrown away)," he said.

He said the coronavirus vaccines must also be properly stored in cold facilities to avoid spoilage. "Failing that, we waste the vaccines which are important in making the people healthy," he said.

Of the country's 8 million doses of coronavirus vaccines, the country has administered more than 5 million shots since the inoculation drive started last March. Around 1.1 million people have been fully vaccinated so far.