Rapid vaccination of medical frontline workers targeted within a month by the Philippines
The Lowdown on Vaccinating Frontliners in the Philippines
Looks like the Philippine government is gearing up to vaccinate all medical frontliners within a month! According to the presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, approximately 1.4 million medical frontliners are prioritized, with the first doses arriving soon.
In an interview, Roque revealed plans to get the ball rolling by vaccinating medical frontliners in the coming month. The Interim National Immunization Technical Advisory Group, a group of health experts, came up with a priority list for vaccine recipients, placing medical frontliners at the top.
Roque mentioned that not only medical staff but also non-medical ones working in health facilities, like interns, nursing aides, and janitors, are part of the first batch. The government anticipates receiving 117,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine and over 5.6 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Both are expected to arrive in the first quarter of 2021.
Meanwhile, hospitals covered by the priority list have already sent lists of health workers ready for vaccination. The Department of Health aims to finalize a master list of healthcare workers for vaccination by February 15.
Vice President Leni Robredo emphasized the necessity of a list of recipients to ensure a smooth rollout and eliminate confusion among healthcare workers. She also suggested assisting local government units in vaccine distribution and smoother protocols for private companies to vaccinate their employees.
It's crucial that people are aware of the timeline and their status as a recipient. So, join us and help protect the truth! Let's keep each other informed and ensure a smooth vaccination rollout. Can't wait to discuss this further in our communities!
In keeping with the preparations for vaccinating frontliners, science plays a crucial role in ensuring the efficacy and safety of the vaccines, such as the Pfizer and AstraZeneca ones. Medical-conditions and general health-and-wellness must be considered before administering vaccines to healthcare workers, given the importance of their roles in the ongoing battle against COVID-19.
