The DILG called on LGUs to ensure safe COVID-19 vaccination amidst rainy season.
On Tuesday, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) called on local government units (LGUs) to consider the safety and comfort of Filipinos who were lining up for vaccination against COVID-19 especially during this rainy season.
This, after President Rodrigo Duterte compelled DILG Secretary Eduardo Año to ensure that people weren’t exposed to health risks and other hazards detrimental to their safety on the day of their COVID-19 vaccination amidst torrential monsoon rains and flooding in several areas of the Philippines in the past few days.
Año said in a directive to the governors, mayors, and barangay captains that the local government units must assure that the vaccination sites — including their outside premises and queueing areas — were safe and convenient with little to no exposure to floods, rains, and other man-made or natural hazards.
“While we are ramping up efforts to vaccinate the majority of our populace, LGUs should take into consideration the safety and convenience of both the vaccination workforce and the vaccine recipients. Kailangang siguruhin ng ating mga LGUs na maayos at hindi baha sa vaccination sites upang hindi maexpose sa ibang sakit ang ating mga kababayan,” Año said.
Año also maintained that the local government units should also ensure that the facilities in the COVID-19 vaccination sites were designed to give special accommodation to persons with comorbidities, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities (PWDs).
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In the same directive, Año also ordered the local government units to make their scheduling and appointment system more efficient with definite time slots to prevent long lines and unreasonable queueing, especially in the morning.
“The safety of everyone should be top of mind as we carry out our vaccination efforts and especially during this rainy season. Ihanda natin ang ating mga mamamayan at siguruhin nating alam nila ang kanilang gagawin kung sakaling magkaroon ng mga biglaang aberya sa araw ng pagbabakuna,” Año said.
Earlier, President Duterte expressed concern over long lines in the COVID-19 vaccination centers and the risk of people getting leptospirosis amidst the rains and floods.
The President then tasked the Department of the Interior and Local Government to issue a directive in order to ensure a smoother COVID-19 vaccination drive, especially during floods in the local government units.
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