AN OFFICIAL from the Davao City Covid-19 Task Force said the Covid-19 surge in the city had also infected its frontline health workers, as 22 personnel assigned at the major drive-thru vaccination hubs had tested positive for the virus.
Covid-19 Task Force spokesperson Dr. Michelle Schlosser said in a radio interview on Wednesday, January 19, that the 22 personnel positive for the virus were assigned at the People’s Park and at Davao Crocodile Park.
But Schlosser said the personnel and their close contacts were immediately placed under isolation and are currently recovering.
She admitted that the Covid-19 surge had affected the operation of the city's vaccination hubs, as the city is currently intensifying its vaccine rollout to catch up with the exponential surge of cases in the city, which is currently under "high risk" level.
"To be honest with you, yes, apektado na po (we are already affected). The public deserves to know... Pero (But) we have already planned this. Ato nang na-foresee ni siya (We have already foreseen this). When there is a surge, naa gyud tay gina-expect na even atong healthcare workers... maapektuhan (it is expected that our healthcare workers will be affected)," Schlosser said in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio.
The Task Force also clarified that no vaccination hubs were closed, and that the two vaccine hubs whose personnel tested positive were immediately replaced with a new set of workers.
"We are doing that... if in case mananghan atong vaccination hubs na contaminated (there will be an increase of cases in our contaminated vaccination hubs)," she said.
With this, she allayed worries of those who wanted to get vaccinated, assuring that the substitute workers are cleared from the infection as they had undergone a swab test before being deployed to the site.
The official also said that those fully vaccinated who are already qualified to receive the booster shot must immediately visit their nearest vaccination site for an additional layer of protection.
Based on the data from the vaccination cluster as of January 15, the City Government has already administered anti-Covid-19 vaccines to a total of 1,207,885 individuals or 92.92 percent of the target population protection for the second dose.
The City Government has also administered the first dose to a total of 1,268,468 individuals, or 97.58 percent of the target population protection.
A total of 121,050 Dabawenyos have also availed themselves of the booster dose. The target population for herd immunity is at 1,299,894.