Davao City not keen making Covid-19 vaccination mandatory - Health official
THE Davao City Covid-19 Task Force bared that the city government is not keen on making the Covid-19 vaccination "mandatory."
This is after Davao del Norte governor Edwin Jubahib issued Executive Order (EO) No. 26 Series of 2022 requiring individuals aged five years old and above to be fully vaccinated and boostered against Covid-19.
"Diri sa Davao City, even if kana ilang gina-implement... dili na siya buot pasabot na applicable na diria sa Davao City. Iba ang situation sa Davao del Norte, and Davao City (It is not applicable in Davao City. Our situation here is different from theirs)," Covid-19 Task Force Spokesperson Dr. Michelle Schlosser said in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio Friday, July 22.
Schlosser also said that the city doesn't find it "necessary" for now as there is a good turnout of vaccinees.
However, she said there is a need to intensify their education and information drive for the five to 11 years old target population.
However, she said that she respects the local government unit's (LGU) policy as they are given the authority to implement their respective measures to address the Covid-19 pandemic.
Schlosser is not certain if the guidelines of the EO is in accordance with the guidelines set by the national government, particularly the Department of Health.
"I don't know what Alert Level they are at the moment, pero I know for a fact na medyo mataas ang kanilang Alert Level. Maybe that's their way of protecting their city or province," Schlosser said.
Davao City is at Alert Level 1, while Davao del Norte is at Alert Level 2 until July 31 after the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) did not provide the updated list on July 15, the supposed level status of the entire country lapsed.
DavNor EO
Section 1 of EO 26 states that all eligible individuals must be administered two primary doses and two booster doses.
At the same time, full implementation of the DavNor QR System in all public and private establishments, places, and facilities is required in order to check the vaccination status of their clients before entering the premises.
The EO also cited different provincial offices and their roles to ensure the implementation of the vaccination mandate.
The Provincial/City/Municipal Social Welfare and Development Offices are to require senior citizens and persons with disabilities to be fully vaccinated.
The EO also mandates the National Government Agencies and Local Government Units to ensure primary doses of unvaccinated persons. The Department of Education is ordered to require booster doses for all teachers, non-teaching staff, and students aged 12 years and above.
Government and private hospitals are required to provide a fast lane for cases of Adverse Events Following Immunization.
In the barangays, the Barangay Officials and Barangay Health Workers are directed to secure an updated masterlist of unvaccinated individuals per purok. RGL