THE Davao City Covid-19 Task Force aims to bring the booster dose vaccination to Information Technology and Business Process Management (IT-BPM) firms to increase the industry’s number of “boostered” employees, according to spokesperson Dr. Michelle Schlosser on Friday, April 8, 2022.
“Ang isa sa mga dako na establishment or companies na naay hiring of a lot of employees is atong mga BPOs (BPOs are one of the big establishments or companies with mass hiring). We have been partnering with them (for the vaccination) since katong nag surge ta (the surge) and now we will also partner with them sa pag taas sa atong (to increase) booster doses,” Schlosser said during a radio interview on Friday, April 8, 2022.
Similar to the current status of booster dose vaccination in Davao City, Schlosser said that the number of fully vaccinated business process outsourcing (BPO) employees is high but those with a booster dose remain low due to complacency of the employees.
“One of the reasons I’ve heard during the meeting (with BPO companies) is medyo naging complacent ang uban employees nila (some of their employees have been complacent). They feel like they are already protected. Ang uban, since isa sa mga requirements to enter their offices is pag fully vaccinated and boostered; so, ang uban, gusto pa mag pabilin sa ilang panimalay siguro, dili sila mag booster (One of the requirements to go to the office is to be fully vaccinated and have booster dose. Some may still want to continue working from home, so they do not want to get the booster shot),” Schlosser said.
However, the spokesperson said they are already discussing with BPO companies regarding different approaches to address the situation and create a strategy that will help increase the number of booster dose jabs.
Schlosser said the vaccination cluster’s partnership with BPO companies is part of the city government’s sectoral vaccination approach which aims to bring the vaccine in different sectors, such as in barangays and establishments.
Part of the sectoral approach is the In-Office Vaccination Rollout. “Isa sa mga (One of our) suggestion is our team, the vaccination team, will go to their respective offices para mas convenient sa ilaha (so it’s more convenient for them),” Schlosser said.
BPO companies will be the initial population group for the said vaccination drive but Schlosser said other private establishments such as banks and restaurants will be included soon.
This effort of the Davao City Task Force and the Vaccination Rollout is simultaneous with the in-office vaccination rollout in government offices as well wherein regional offices and city hall employees also have a low number of booster dose administration despite being fully vaccinated.