Police, BFP told: Closely coordinate with LGUs for vaccine delivery

THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to closely coordinate with the Department of Health (DOH) and their respective local government units (LGUs) to ensure the speedy delivery of Covid-19 vaccines especially in provinces.

DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said ensuring the fast delivery of the vaccines is critical to the government’s goal of achieving four million jabs by the end of June.

The government aims to inoculate 50 to 70 million Filipinos by the end of 2021 in order to achieve herd immunity.

“Given the President’s (Rodrigo Duterte) directive, our ultimate goal is to ensure that the vaccines reach local governments as quickly as possible in good condition and that these vaccines are immediately utilized for inoculation,” Año said in a statement.

“I’ve directed the PNP to secure these vaccines every step of the way and to ensure its fast delivery... In coordination with the DOH, we will closely monitor the performance of the LGUs and we will require daily reports from them to ensure that they are meeting their targets,” he added.

President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the DILG on Monday, May 17, to supervise the transport and ensure the proper handling of Covid-19 vaccines, especially those which will arrive directly in the provinces to ensure no wastage.

Following the incident in the Municipality of Makilala, Cotabato, where 348 vials of Sinovac vaccines reportedly got spoiled, Año urged all LGUs to strictly observe vaccine monitoring measures for vaccine doses storage, especially as some vaccines require specific temperature ranges.

Año also stressed the need for LGUs to report on the transportation mechanism for the vaccines and to monitor if said transportation is compliant with the requisite safe-handling of the vaccines.

Over the weekend, two boxes of Covid-19 vaccines bound for Polillo Island in Quezon Province were nearly wasted after the boat carrying them capsized after hitting a partly submerged concrete post. The vaccine doses were still used.

As of May 18, 3,114,847 doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been administered. About 751,295 Filipinos were already fully vaccinated, while 2,363,552 received their first dose. (SunStar Philippines)