THE second round of the national vaccination drive dubbed as "Bayanihan Bakunahan" in Davao Region will be rescheduled, as some provinces will be hit by tropical cyclone Odette.
The National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) said in an advisory that the second wave of mass inoculation will be moved to December 20 to 22 instead of December 15 to 17.
The NVOC said this is to "prioritize the safety of constituents, healthcare workers and volunteers, and vaccines above anything else."
Its earlier directive stated that regional and local vaccinators must ensure the cold chain management of Covid-19 doses ahead of any typhoon or calamity.
All personnel, including maintenance workers, security guards, and general services staff, must be oriented on the storage and handling of cold facilities. At least one alternative storage, with continuous electricity or generator, plus another backup generator, should be set up.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) reported on Tuesday morning, December 14, that Odette is expected to intensify into a typhoon on Wednesday and make landfall in Caraga or Eastern Visayas by Thursday afternoon or evening.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Government of Davao Oriental said that routine vaccination activities will still continue this week throughout the province, with each local government tasked to coordinate with their respective local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office for risk assessment on areas prone to landslides and flooding.