- NND NEWS TEAM
Both the highly-urbanized Bacolod City and the provincial government of Negros Occidental are waiting for the go-signal from the Department of Health to start administering booster shots to medical front-liners.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III has approved the recommendation of the Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC) on the provision of vaccine booster shots.
“As long as the province is given the green light to give booster shots to its frontliners, of course, we will follow,” Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said Oct. 25.
The Philippines’ HTAC, in an issuance dated Oct. 13, recommended that COVID-19 booster dose can be administered to health workers in the fourth quarter of 2021, while those in other priority groups may become eligible in 2022.
But Lacson the rollout should be supported by more vaccines, as he noted that the National Capital Region has been prioritized in the vaccine allocation.
The HTAC, which was created under the Universal Health Care Law, is a group of experts tasked with the unique role of reviewing any health technology, including vaccines and medicines, to be used for public health programs.
The Bacolod Emergency Operations Center will also wait for the go-ahead from the DOH in administering the booster jabs.
Dr. Chris Sorongon, EOC deputy for data analysis, said that as long as the city will be allocated more vaccines by the DOH, the local vaccination team will be ready to administer the shots.
He said they will establish a system in administering the booster shots since the city is also undertaking the vaccination of its target population to attain herd immunity against COVID-19.
The initial advisory is that doctors, nurses, and other health workers performing duty in any medical facility will be given the booster jabs starting next month; and the senior citizens in January, Sorongon added.
The EOC is also preparing for the Pediatric A3 vaccination, or those 12 to 17 years old Bacolodnons with comorbidities, on Oct. 29, at the Riverside Medical Center.
Sorongon said 704 children with comorbidities have registered for the pediatric vaccination. — NND
