THE Davao City Health Office (CHO) reminded anew that walk-ins will be strictly prohibited at vaccination sites.
In a statement posted on the Davao City government Facebook page, the City prohibits catering to walk-ins at vaccination sites, especially that the city is currently experiencing a surge in Covid-19 cases.
"Ang pagpundo ug pagtapok sa mga vaccination site posibleng makadugang sa risgo nga matakdan sa sakit (Gathering at vaccination sites can possibly add up the risk of getting infected with the virus)," the city government said in a statement posted on Wednesday, June 9, 2021.
Vaccinees must contact their respective district health offices for their schedule.
CHO Acting Head Dr. Ashley Lopez reiterated this in a radio interview in the morning of the same day.
"If you look into atong gi-prepare nato nga protocols, guidelines nato sa vaccination [sites], dapat gyud walay walk-in. Dapat mapatuman tong pre-registration to the registration process so that mahapsay ang pagpadagan sa proseso sa bakuna sa vaccination sites," Lopez said in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio.
(If you look into our protocols and guidelines, walk-ins are not allowed at the vaccination sites. We should follow the pre-registration to ensure that the vaccination runs smoothly.)
Lopez said they were able to strictly implement the no walk-ins during the vaccination of the Priority A1 group or the medical frontliners.
"Pag-abot sa [Priority] A2 [senior citizen] man gud, lisod man gud ning atong mga (When we already started with the A2 group, we saw that it was becoming harder to manage the) senior citizens. They were too anxious to receive their vaccines. Na-excited na sila. Ang uban di na gyud kahulat og notice sa (They got too excited and they cannot wait to receive notifications through) text message," he said.
The official said vaccinees should be registered to their nearest district health centers or on the SafeDavao QR (DQR) Code.
According to some individuals who have visited their nearest health centers, no doctor would accommodate their registration. Others complain that they do not know how to register online.
This made some resort to walk-ins.
"We decided to tolerate na lang ang (for the meantime) walk-in sa atong mga (of our) seniors. Same thing with A3. As we know, mga comorbidity ni, ang uban ani kay naka-wheelchair muadto’g vaccination sites. Ato nalang ginasabot ilang condition (these are people with comorbidities, with some on their wheelchair when they visited their respective vaccination sites We tried to understand their condition)," Lopez said.
However, he said they will not continue tolerating this in other subgroups.
He said there is a need to regulate the number of vaccinees within the vaccination hubs in order to implement the minimum health protocols.
Lopez said the City is targeting to inoculate 1.2 million Dabawenyos before November this year. He said the vaccination rollout might last a year or two.
"Ato lang i-maximize, ato lang paningkamutan. (We will try to maximize and work on our vaccination.) If we are in order, basin kaya nato ni humanon (we might be able to vaccinate everyone) within this year. Basta in order lang ta ug wala lang interruption sa pag-abot sa bakuna (As long as everything is in order and there won’t be an interruption in the arrival of the supply)," he said.
The city is targeting to open 25 vaccination hubs to speed up the vaccination rollout.
'Disorganized'
Roland, who requested to withhold his name, a person with comorbidity, was among those who lined up as early as 6 a.m. to get his first dose of Sinovac vaccine at one of the malls in Davao City.
He said there was already a long line outside the mall.
When the chairs were started to be distributed and the vaccinators arrived, Roland said the line started to be disorganized.
"Wala ko kasabot sa ilahang sistema. Very disorganized. Wala na nasunod ang linya, naa pa gasingit. Kung naa lang ka didtoa, makita nimo grabe ang away sa linya. Nagshinagitay na. Gasingit man gud ning uban. Alkanse kaayo sa uban nga sayo kaayo nipila,” he said.
(I do not understand their system. Very disorganized. The line was not followed as some people cut lines. If you were there, you will see that some fought for their line. Some people were already shouting. I feel bad for those who lined up early.)
Roland, who also requested not to disclose his medical condition, said it was inconvenient on his part, considering he has a comorbidity. He endured the long line just to get the vaccine.
"Mas maayo na maglinya og ing-ani kataas. Kung mao lang ni maka-protect sa imo against Covid[-19], agwantahon nalang nato ni (I’d rather bear the long lines if this would guarantee protection to me against Covid-19)," he said.
Marcy Conde, another A3 priority group, was also vaccinated at the same vaccination site during that day.
Conde said she registered via DQR in May but did not receive any text message regarding her schedule.
She decided to go as a walk-in when her friends and relatives were vaccinated despite not having registered.
"Gisuwayan namo sa Azuela [Cove]. Kaso naabtan mi sa cutoff. Dili pud sila mudawat og walk-in. Maong gi-try nako diria [SM Ecoland] (I tried lining up at Azuela, but I was not able to make it to the cutoff. They also don’t cater for walk-ins. That’s why I tried my luck here)," Conde said.
She also noted long lines at the site with some trying to cut the line.
She said some who were still at the Priority A4 group were sent home.
"Unta i-improve sa city ilahang sistema. Luoy kaayo ang mga seniors ug mga naay comorbidities na nag-linya (I hope the city would improve their system. I feel bad for seniors and those with comorbidities who lined up)," Conde said.