By NG Seruela
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte appealed to local government units (LGUs) to streamline their COVID-19 vaccination process to prevent vaccination sites from becoming virus spreaders.
In his May 31 public address, President Duterte asked the LGUs to “to administer the vaccines quickly” to their constituents to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 as well as vaccine wastage.
“‘Yang bakuna na mayroon, hindi niyo puwedeng bukas-bukasin ‘yan, kasi ang shelf life ‘nong bakuna will expire on a certain day. And nakita ko the longest is about three, two months,” he said.
“Wala nang bisa ‘yan, itatapon na ‘yan. Just like one instance somewhere in ano, naging spoiled ang ano because nawalaan na ‘yong temperature. Dapat nakabaon talaga ‘yan sa ice and in storage na where the temperature is controlled. Failing that, we waste the vaccines which are important in making the people healthy,” he said.
The President added that making the people queue for “an hour or longer exposes them to other risks.” He asked the LGUs to use “technology and advanced approaches” to ensure that the entire process will be “more effective.”
“Huwag mong pahirapan ‘yong tao na palinyahin ninyo. Either the day before magbigay kayo ng mga card. Simple lang naman ‘yan, may number ano ‘yong card. So ‘yong 100 ngayong araw na ‘to, 101, 102, eh kung sinong gustong magpabakuna, lumapit doon. Dito sa isang mesa, this is where you get the names, ibigay mo ‘yong card. Then do it in such a way na you are there 15 minutes earlier para maghintay na lang to expedite the vaccination of people.”
The Chief Executive warned that “the very thing that you are trying to avoid will happen” if the LGUs do not find a more effective solution to the queueing. -jlo
