Booster shots for COVID-19 will be available in certain pharmacies and clinics in Metro Manila on Jan. 20 and Jan. 21.
The government will pilot the program, dubbed “Resbakuna sa mga Botika,” in seven pharmacies and clinics in order to expand its mass immunization drive and address the shortage of vaccinators, according to Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. of the National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19.
Dr. Beaver Tamesis, president of the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines, said pharmacists were well-trained in administering vaccines.
“They are prepared and they’ve been waiting for this opportunity to help the national effort in curbing the spread of COVID-19,” Tamesis said.
Health reformist Dr. Tony Leachon said the idea of using drugstores as vaccination sites had been forwarded as early as March 2021.
He said the proximity of the pharmacies to people’s residences would be key in the strategy, especially in view of the government’s “no vaccination, no ride” policy.
Galvez himself observed that other countries had been tapping big pharmacies and clinics as well as the services of pharmacists in their respective vaccination drives.
The pharmacies and clinics that will take part in the pilot program are: Healthway Manila, Mercury Drug Manila-Malate, President Quirino branch, South Star SSD Marikina branch, Watsons SM Supercenter Pasig, Generika Signal 1 Taguig branch, TGP Parañaque branch, and Qualimed Mckinley, acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles said at a press briefing on Tuesday.
Nograles said the vaccines would be administered for free and each pharmacy or clinic would be given 50-100 booster doses per day for one week, or 500 per week, for the pilot program.
Booster recipients are required to preregister with the concerned LGU, which will co-implement the program with the pharmacy or clinic, he said, adding that the guidelines would be tweaked as the program progressed.
NTF deputy chief implementer Vince Dizon said the program would be expanded to other cities nationwide immediately after the pilot test. (©Philippine Daily Inquirer 2021)
