WHO helping improve vax coverage

CEBU, Philippines — The World Health Organization continues to support the Department of Health and key sub-national areas, including Cebu, with its technical expertise to improve vaccination coverage to priority groups and the rest of the general population.

The WHO continues to keep an eye on the country’s vaccination efforts even after it has already fully vaccinated over 60 million Filipinos after taking note that reaching vulnerable senior citizens remains a challenge.

Cebu City Health Department officer-in-charge Dr. Jeffrey Ibones disclosed that some of the DOH representatives have been in the city since Monday and visited different vaccination sites here.

“Gitan-aw nila giunsa nato atong vaccination, unsay paagi sa reporting, pag-recieve sa vaccine, naa ba tay sakto nga cold chain, naa ba tay nakita nga problema, challenges nga nasagubang or nasinati, unsay mga suggestions,” said Ibones.

In Cebu City, the WHO representatives visited vaccination sites like SM City Seaside and SM City-Cebu, Robinsons Cybergate and Galleria, and Ayala Center-Cebu and the University of San Carlos’ pop-up site.

“Pag Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday ug karon (yesterday) niduaw man sila sa vaccination sites. Karon gani tua man sila paingon sa San Carlos… Actually wa man wala sila miingon kung pila, ang ganahan lang nila adtuon, moingon sila adto mi ana pareha karon ganahan sila motan-aw sa pop-up, ang University of San Carlos Talamban, di tua sila karon didto unya nihapit sila diri sa SM City kay opening (vaccination site) so nitan-aw sila kung giunsa nato,” said Ibones.

Ibones said WHO representatives also inquired if the city government is also involving NGOs, volunteer doctors, among others.

The WHO has been emphasizing that seniors are one of the high-risk groups that must be prioritized for COVID-19 vaccines.

“While nearly all eligible individuals of the target priority populations of the country (93% of healthcare workers and 92% of people with comorbidities) are now protected against severe illness caused by COVID-19, around 2.4 million senior citizens have yet to receive even a single dose of COVID-19 vaccine,” a WHO report earlier said.

WHO, DOH, and other partners have been advocating for local chief executives (LCEs) to invest in bringing vaccination services closer to the communities.

To prevent the loss of lives in the next surge, vaccinating vulnerable populations is the most impactful intervention the country can do now amid the easing of restrictions, the WHO stressed.

“These vulnerable groups include senior citizens, people in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA), and those who do not have any easy and affordable means to go to vaccination sites,” it said.

As of March 30, 2022, provinces with the highest number of unvaccinated A2 (senior citizens) include Cebu, Negros Occidental, Batangas, Cavite, Bulacan, Negros Oriental, Nueva Ecija, Iloilo, Leyte, and Laguna.

WHO teams are collaborating with senior health authorities and provincial government officials to identify ways to use existing resources to reach vulnerable populations and address concerns on vaccine safety and access.

Aside from Cebu City, the WHO representatives are also visiting other LGUs in the Cebu Province with the hope of helping improve its vaccine coverage.

Meanwhile, Ibones also disclosed that the city government is far from stopping its vaccination.

Today, April 22, the city government will be opening its vaccination site for the youngest eligible population, the 5-11-year-olds at SM Seaside City.

Aside from SM Seaside City, other 5-11-year-old vaccination sites include Robinsons Cybergate, Ayala Center Cebu and SM City-Cebu’s Northwing.

Cebu City will also have a new vaccination site at Il Curso at the South Road Properties as many Cebuanos are opting to have vaccination in malls.

The city government will also continue in-school vaccination in the mountain barangays due for face-to-face classes and later on in the lowland areas.

The city’s vaccination teams are also gearing up for the vaccination/booster of BPO employees at the IT Park next week. – Decemay P. Padilla, JMD (FREEMAN)