A health official said the rushed registration and eventual vaccination of persons with comorbidities such as hypertension and diabetes last week in Baguio was part of the city’s contingency measure to ensure that available vaccines will not go to waste.
Dr. Nelson Hora, medical officer of the City Health Services Office, said the city moved on to the vaccination for priority A3 or those with comorbidities because the available vaccines, Sinovac, are discouraged for the priority A2 group or the senior citizens.
Hora said there was no pre-registration done for priority A3, that’s why they were hurriedly registered after the CHSO finished the inoculation of priority A1 or the health care workers.
He said the city does not know the exact dates when the vaccines are delivered and health workers must administer immediately whatever vaccine is available.
The inoculation last week covered those with comorbid conditions aged 18 to 59 years old.
The vaccination for senior citizens will be announced once the doses fit for them arrive.
In the meantime, the CHSO has launched the last mile vaccination masterlisting campaign, which covers senior citizens who have yet to be enlisted in the city’s vaccination database.
The campaign also covers those who belong to priority A1 who missed their chance to be vaccinated during the rollout last month and those who fall under priority A4, which include frontline personnel in essential sectors such as uniformed personnel and those working in industries identified by the Inter-Agency Task Force as essential.
To register online, visit the Facebook page of the CHSO or the Public Information Office or coordinate with the barangays or district health centers.
Hora asked those who do not belong to the priority sectors to be more understanding and wait for their turn to be vaccinated.
“We want everyone to be vaccinated, but we have to prioritize because of the limited supply,” he said.
He added in case those who registered for vaccination fail to appear during their schedule, CHSO personnel contacts those in the quick substitution list, who must also fall under the category of the person they are replacing.
“We cannot just pick a random individual as a replacement,” he said.
Hora discouraged individuals who are not eligible for inoculation from proceeding to the vaccination sites as they will not be accommodated.
“Let us remember that for every vaccine given to those not eligible, we deny the one who needs the vaccine more, so huwag na pong ipilit kung hindi eligible,” Hora said. – Jane B. Cadalig
