Davao City to close Covid vaccination hubs


DAVAO City residents flock to the city’s biggest vaccination hub at the Azuela Cove in Lanang to avail themselves of Covid-19 vaccines. The vaccination hub could serve at least 1,000 recipients per day. (Keith Bacongco)
DAVAO CITY – The city government of Davao plans to shut down all existing coronavirus disease (Covid-19) vaccination hubs here, more than a year after conducting a massive inoculation program against the highly infectious virus, a local health official said.

Dr. Michele Schlosser, spokesperson for the Davao City Covid-19 Task Force, told Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR 87.5) Wednesday, June 15, that the city’s vaccination cluster has created a transition team to devise a plan for the transfer of the vaccination program from the existing hubs to the new locations that are more convenient and accessible to locals.

She added that authorities have initially discussed placing the vaccination program under the care of either the 18 health districts or the 182 barangay health centers.

According to the City Information Office, the city has 12 public vaccination hubs -- nine in malls, two inside parks, and one at Calinan Elementary School.

She said the vaccination cluster has yet to finalize the date for the transfer of the venue.

“As to finality of the decision whether it be transferred to district health office or barangay health centers, there is no final decision yet. We’re hoping the transition team or the vaccination cluster will come up with a decision within the week,” she said.

She said door-to-door and mobile vaccination programs will remain to reach out to more individuals.