Vaccination of typhoon Odette evacuees pushed

Sen. Francis Tolentino urged the Department of Health (DOH) to vaccinate qualified Filipinos in evacuation centers in the areas devastated by typhoon Odette.

According to Tolentino, the DOH should take the opportunity to vaccinate many Filipinos who are temporarily staying in evacuation centers.

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The senator stressed that the DOH should take advantage of the vaccination of those in evacuation centers in Naga, Cebu, and even Bohol and not wait until Wednesday to register again because they are already there to be vaccinated.

Based on the latest data released by the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC), up to 174,010 families are temporarily staying in evacuation centers.

Meanwhile, health expert Dr. Tony Leachon warned of the possibility of COVID-19 spreading to Visayas and Mindanao due to the overcrowding of affected families in evacuation centers.

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Leachon, a former government adviser to COVID-19, reminded that it is essential that the government monitor the situation in the areas devastated by typhoon Odette in the coming weeks, especially since the vaccination rate is still low here.

This follows the admission of Department of Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje that the results of the National Vaccination Day were low due to the typhoon.

Vaccination of typhoon Odette evacuees pushed

He said a total of 2,361,216 doses, or 31 percent of the seven million targets, were only reached from December 15 to 17.

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“Ang 3 araw ay naapek­tuhan ng ating bagyo. In some regions, maganda ang kanilang turnout,” said Cabotaje.

“The Central Visayas, walang naganap na bakunahan dito because they were greatly affected,” he added.

The DOH also verifies that vaccines were wasted due to power outages in some areas in Mindanao and Visayas.

In this regard, Leachon added that the priority is to take care of the people at the evacuation sites and provide them with anti-virus necessities such as face masks and alcohol and continue the vaccination.

“Kunyari naka-settle down na sila sa evacuation center, dapat isa ito sa gawin natin, na magpabakuna para sa ganoon, hindi magkalat ang COVID cases diyan,” said Leachon.

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