The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) instructed all local government units (LGUs) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday, March 10, to make the necessary preparations for the fourth National Vaccination Days against Covid-19.

DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año stressed that LGUs should implement all the best practices that were learned from the three previous massive vaccination drives for the better implementation of the fourth National Vaccination Day on March 10 to 12.

“Pinulong na natin ang mga governors, ang mga mayors, at ang barangay captains para masiguro natin na maayos at ligtas ang darating na 'Bakunahan 4' para sa mga natitirang mga seniors, mga kabataang 12-17 taong gulang, mga batang 5-11 ang edad, at mga nangangailang ng booster shots (We already met the governors, mayors, and barangay captains to ensure a smooth and safe 'Bakunahan 4' for the remaining senior citizens, minors aged 12 to 17, children from five to eleven years old, and those needing booster shots),” Año said.

He also directed the PNP to deploy adequate number of troops to increase police visibility within and around the vaccination sites to ensure a systematic and orderly vaccination of the intended individuals, maintain order in the queues, and ensure the safety of both the vaccine team and the public.

Año said that the drop in the Covid-19 cases and eased public mobility have resulted in the upswing of crime rate.

The DILG chief stated that while the first week of the implementation of Alert Level 1 in the National Capital Region (NCR) was promising, “there is still a need to increase the country’s vaccination coverage to ensure that the majority of the population is protected from severe Covid-19 infections.’’

“We don’t want to go back to square one so while we are opening up our economy again, let us continue our vaccination efforts para hindi na talaga tayo malusutan ng Covid (so that Covid will not recur). With the steady decline in Covid-19 case turn-out and limited granular lockdowns, LGUs should now use the increase in mobility to prepare for the upcoming vaccination days,” he added.

Año said that granular lockdowns implemented throughout the country are now limited to nine cities and municipalities, 24 barangays, 37 granular lockdown areas, 37 households, and 47 individuals.

According to the National Task Force Against Covid-19, Bakunahan 4 will mainly target senior citizens, particularly in areas where vaccine coverage is still low.

In addition, the government will seek to boost the vaccination of individuals aged 12 to 17 years old and those who have yet to receive their primary vaccine series.

The first National Vaccination Days (NVDs) were held from Nov. 29 to Dec. 1, 2021 with 9.9 million people vaccinated while the second phase which had 7.4 million vaccinees ran from Dec. 15 to 23, 2021. The third phase of the vaccination drive which recorded three million vaccinees were held from Feb. 10 to 18.