MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday (May 19) announced that it has deployed members of its Medical Reserve Force (MRF) to COVID-19 vaccination centers to manage long lines and prevent overcrowding.
In a statement, PNP chief, Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said MRF members were assigned to the San Francisco High School, Project 6 Elementary School, and the Masambong Elementary School in Quezon City, which are all being used as vaccination centers.
“Gusto nating iwasan na maging super spreader events ang pagaantay natin na tayo’y mabakunahan. Imbes na proteksyon, eh baka virus pa ang makuha natin. Kaya minabuti po naming mag-deploy ng aming Medical Reserve Force para makatulong sa mga nangangasiwa sa ating vaccination sites,” he said.
This came after a recent incident in Parañaque City where some residents flocked to a mall in an attempt to get inoculated even if they are not scheduled yet for vaccination, leading to the absence of safe physical distancing.
The MRF, formed at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic last year, is composed of police officers who are graduates of medicine and health-related courses.
MRF members have served in police-operated quarantine facilities such as the Ultra Stadium in Pasig City and the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.
Aside from ensuring compliance with health protocols, Eleazar said MRF members can also help administer vaccines at these sites.
“We will continue to coordinate and assess the situation with the Department of Health [DOH] and our LGUs [local government units] kung saan pa iyong mga vaccination centers na nangangailangan ng tulong,” he added.
Eleazar said members of the MRF undergo a refresher course on the administration of the vaccines.
Meanwhile, Eleazar said he has already ordered all regional and provincial directors to coordinate with the DOH in identifying police camps that could be used as vaccination sites as the national government prepares for the inoculation of essential workers and indigent Filipinos.
He also tasked these officials to prepare this early for the possible use of police camps in the government’s vaccination plan in anticipation of all the possible untoward incidents that may happen.
Earlier, vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. announced that police and military camps would be used as vaccination sites for the A4 priority sector as more COVID-19 vaccine shipments arrive in the country.
The inoculation for the A4 category in the vaccine priority list, which includes security forces, firefighters, customs personnel, and immigration officers, may take place in the last week of May.
Eleazar said police camps would make good vaccination sites because of their wide and open spaces. (with Lloyd Caliwan/PNA) -jlo
