From a five-day weekday vaccination, most district health centers in Davao City are currently conducting COVID-19 vaccination rollout only on Fridays.
Dr. Michelle Schlosser, the spokesperson of the Davao City COVID-19 Task Force, bared this on Wednesday’s COVID-19 Alert program, January 11, over 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR).
She said that Bunawan District Health Center, which she heads, has been rolling out the anti-COVID-19 immunization on Fridays.
See the list of operational vaccination sites and schedules here ? bit.ly/3GXI5pe.
Schlosser, however, said that the Philippine National Red Cross’ initiative to resume the conduct of its weekend vaccination at the People’s Park is still being discussed.
“The COVID-19 TF is working on that with the vaccination cluster. We are looking forward to mas better ana pa, kung unsa’y naandan mas duol sa katawhan like kaning park na ni. Hopefully, we’ll be able to get the budget and manpower for that. We’re trying to cater to that, unta ma-realize sya aron mapataas nato atong booster doses (The COVID-19 TF is working on that with the vaccination cluster. We are looking forward to something better, closer to the people like in this park. Hopefully, we can get the budget and manpower for that. We’re trying to cater to that, hopefully, it will be realized soon so that we can increase our booster doses),” she said.
As of December 22, 2022, the city health official said Davao City only logged 24 percent in its first booster shots and 6 percent in the second booster jabs, which are very low compared to the over 100 percent fully vaccinated Dabawenyos inoculated with the primary two-dose series.
The district health centers are catering to primary dose series, first and booster jabs, and missed doses for five to 11 years old and 12-above population age groups.
Schlosser said even if the city has been recording a downtrend in COVID-19 cases recently, the vaccination drive will continue as it is the only way to protect Dabawenyos from death due to COVID-19.
She said that from December 2022 to January 1, the city logged three COVID-19-related deaths, and they were all unvaccinated. Of the three, two were from the 50 to 59 years old age group, while the other one was in the 60-above age bracket.
“This serves as a reminder that the vaccine really works. Ang tumong ug benepisyo sa bakuna is to protect us from the severity of the disease, aron dili ta makakuha og severe o critical type of COVID-19 na magresulta sa kamatayon (This serves as a reminder that the vaccine really works. The goal and benefit of the vaccine is to protect us from the severity of the disease so that we don’t get a severe or critical type of COVID-19 that will lead to death),” she added.
She also said that COVID-19 is a preventable disease through the vaccine, that’s why she urged Dabawenyos anew to get vaccinated and boostered.
Schlosser said, “Take advantage gyud ninyo, we have to participate. Ang pag-adto sa center para magpabakuna is a small sacrifice sa time pero proteksyon kini for yourself, family, and the community (Take advantage of the vaccination, we have to participate. Going to the center to get vaccinated is a small sacrifice but it is protection for yourself, family, and the community).”
She also encouraged the public to continue practicing the usual minimum public health standards (MPHS) like wearing face masks, even if it’s already voluntary to do so, as protection from COVID-19 transmission. CIO
