Solidum urges DOH, LGUs to prioritize COVID vaccination of residents in calamity-prone areas

Science and Technology Undersecretary Renato Solidum Jr. urged the Department of Health (DOH) and local government units to prioritize the vaccination of residents in calamity-prone areas in the country, including those around Taal Volcano.
Solidum, who is also the OIC of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), explained that having a vaccination program for calamity-prone areas will help reduce the likelihood of outbreaks among individuals displaced by a disaster.
"Kung magkakaroon pa ng mas matagal pang mga aktibidad at mag papaevacuate din naman sa ilan pang mga lugar ay mas maganda na ring mabakunahan bago sila marekomenda for evacuation (If Taal will have sustained activities for a longer period, and more residents are needed to be evacuated, it is better to have them vaccinated against the coronavirus disease before they are recommended for evacuation)," Solidum said in a press conference on Monday, July 5.
Based on the data of the Department of Social Welfare and Development as of July 3, at least 867 families have been affected by the Taal Volcano phreatomagmatic eruption, with 416 families or 1,712 individuals currently staying in 16 evacuation centers in Batangas.
"Mas maganda kung magkaroon ng ganoong program. Ganoon din naman sa ibang mga lugar na high-risk for floods at paparating na rin ang ating tag bagyo na mga buwan. Importante po yan. But that would be for the DOH and local government na po yan (It would be better to have such a program. The same goes for other areas that are high-risk for floods, as tropical cyclone season is already approaching. That is important. But that would be the decision of the DOH and local governments)," he added.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said that the peak of the cyclone season in the country is from July to October when nearly 70 percent of all tropical cyclones develop.