ILOILO City – The Department of Health (DOH) is reminding local government units (LGUs) in Western Visayas to revisit the vaccination guidelines, specifically the prioritization framework set by the World Health Organization (WHO), in giving residents the jabs against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Other economic frontliners, or the A4 category, are not yet allowed to avail themselves of the vaccines except those residing in the National Capital Region Plus (Metro Manila, Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna, and Cavite), according to Dr. Bea Camille Natalaray, medical officer at DOH Region 6.
“Sa aton guidelines sa (A4) vaccination Phase 1, mauna ang NCR Plus. Phase 2 would be the rest of the regions (in the country). Currently, wala pa kita official communication from the central office nga ma-start na kita sa Phase 2 naton,” Natalaray explained.
Iloilo City’s Mayor Jerry Treñas earlier admitted that the city has started inoculating its A4 group.
Natalaray, however, emphasized: “Balik kita sa goal sang aton nga vaccination. First is to reduce the morbidity and mortality sa aton nga COVID-19 cases and to preserve our healthcare system.”
Based on the prioritization framework, healthcare workers (A1 group) come on top to preserve the healthcare system, while the senior citizens and persons with comorbidities (A2 and A3 respectively) follow as they were the ones vulnerable to the viral disease.
Natalaray also underscored that due to the scarcity of vaccines, “naga-prioritize kita.”
The DOH is also sending back vaccine accomplishment data to the LGUs for review and validation if their vaccinees really belonged to the A4 group.
In an interview, Treñas said the city government is speeding up its vaccination program. The DOH has also yet to call him out.
“Daw ako pa may sala bala nga ginapabakunahan ko ang A4,” stressed Treñas. “Ti, kon may sala ‘ko atubangon ta eh.”
“Ang akon gani ginatan-aw once we already have a lot of vaccines, pasugtan ta na lang bisan sin-o na lang nga masulod,” the mayor said in an interview over DYOK Aksyon Radyo Iloilo.
Treñas said they started vaccinating the A4 group as these individuals are often in circulation, thus making them possible sources of infection for their vulnerable household members.
The city mayor added that regardless of residency, he is allowing the vaccination of economic frontliners based in this city./PN
