ILOILO City – Local government units (LGUs) can do house-to-house vaccination against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) for bedridden people and persons with disabilities (PWDs), among others.
Department of Health (DOH) Memorandum Circular No. 2021-0157 allows LGUs to conduct or schedule vaccination for specific groups or sectors either in a separate site/ facility or in current LGU vaccination sites but at a separate date from other populations.
Among the specific groups include people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). According to Dr. Jocelyn Te, medical officer of the Department of Health (DOH) in Region 6, the vaccination can be done through HIV treatment hubs to protect the privacy of patients, provided that the treatment hubs have adequate human resource and capability to conduct the vaccination based on the National Vaccination and Deployment Plan.
Also, vaccination of people affected with tuberculosis (TB) can be carried out through the Directly Observed Treatment Strategy (TB-DOTS) centers, provided that assigned health workers and TB patients have adequate and appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
However, patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), through the Programmatic Management for Drug-resistant Tuberculosis (PMDT) treatment centers/satellite treatment centers, must be strictly vaccinated on a separate place or schedule, ensuring that healthcare workers are equipped with N95 masks and other appropriate PPEs.
For bedridden patients at home and/or in institutions (home for the aged, nursing homes, and infirmaries, among others), Te said the LGUs may schedule on-site vaccination.
She, however, emphasized that appropriate processes and mechanisms for Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) referral such as ensuring availability of ambulances must be ensured.
Medical clearance and dialogue with the attending physician are also necessary for bedridden patients.
LGUs are also advised to develop vaccination mechanism for citizens at home with medical clearance.
In Iloilo City, the city government started conducting barangay-based vaccination Barangay Calumpang in Molo district was the pilot area.
Around 300 senior citizens and persons with disabilities were able to avail themselves of the vaccine at the Marian Hall of the Miraculous Medal Parish Church. Senior citizens or patients who are bedridden were vaccinated at their respective houses.
“We need to innovate so that we can bring the vaccines to those who need them the most but cannot go to the mega sites due to their difficult situation,” Treñas said.
“With the expected arrival of more vaccines, we can open more barangay-based (vaccination) sites,” he added.
Treñas also said barangay officials were instructed to identify bedridden residents.
“We aim to prioritize and protect our vulnerable individuals. Through these relentless efforts of our team we hope to achieve our common goal for herd immunity soonest,” Treñas added.
The city’s next target for barangay-based vaccinations are Calaparan in Arevalo district and barangays San Juan and Boulevard, all in Molo district./PN
