THE Iloilo provincial government is ready to implement its vaccination drive to stop the spread of the deadly coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. issued Executive Order No. 036, series of 2021, adopting the Covid-19 Vaccine Deployment and Immunization Plan 2021-2022 (Covac Plan 21-22) of the Province of Iloilo.
“This is really a framework and an operational action plan,” Defensor said.
The governor said some components of the plan are already in progress such as the signing of a tripartite agreement with British pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca and the national government for Covid-19 vaccines; identification of vaccination sites; registration of eligible population; and preparation of cold storage facilities.
In December 2020, the province secured 270,000 doses of AZD1222 Vaccine from AstraZeneca. An initial budget of P95 million was allotted for the purchase of the vaccines.
Defensor stressed the need for a massive information dissemination drive before the vaccination program is implemented.
“We still have to explain it to the public so that you can get their consent correctly,” he said.
The governor said he already submitted a copy of the plan to the Department of Health, Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the Regional Inter-Agency Task Force and he is waiting for their feedback.
Vaccination plan
The 51-page Covac Plan aims to ensure that all eligible citizens in the province will have free, effective, safe and high-quality vaccines against Covid-19.
It will synchronize the Covid-19 vaccine deployment and vaccination plan of the province with the direction and objectives of the national government.
The plan spells out nine major plan components namely planning and coordination; financing and funding mechanisms; identification of eligible population; vaccination procurement and delivery strategies; cold chain, supply and health care waste management; human resource management and training; acceptance and uptake; vaccine immunization safety monitoring, AEFI/AESI, and post-marketing surveillance and management, and pharmacovigilance; and immunization, registration, Monitoring and data management systems.
It will be implemented in three phases. Phase 1 includes the administration of initial doses of vaccine on a limited basis, with the prioritization of the initial populations of focus.
Those who will be prioritized are the most-at-risk and most vulnerable population such as the frontline health workers, senior citizens, indigent population, uniformed personnel, and persons with comorbidities.
Phase 2 covers the expansion of the vaccination services to a larger population upon the availability of larger quantities of vaccine.
The third phase is making the Covid-19 vaccine widely available and integrating it into routine vaccination programs, run by both public and private partners.
Covac Plan 21-22 also identifies specific priorities and activities that will be undertaken by appropriate Capitol offices in coordination with the DOH and other concerned agencies. (PR)