THE Department of Health (DOH) said they will try to enter hard-to-reach areas to be able to reach individuals and have them vaccinated against the dreaded COVID-19 disease.
According to the DOH, for the fourth wave of “Bayanihan, Bakunahan” national vaccination drive to be held this month, they will prioritize the senior citizens, especially those who have not yet completed their primary dose series and those scheduled to take their booster shots.
“The DOH, through the support of its partners, will reach remote and far-flung areas: locations where indigenous peoples reside and those living in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs),” according to DOH spokesperson and Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.
Vergeire said they will also conduct house-to-house vaccination to reach senior citizens and increase vaccination rollout in communities.
This will be done in coordination with local government units (LGUs), the private sector, pharmacies, primary care clinics, and occupational health clinics, and also air, sea and transportation terminals in order to reach the target population.
Vergeire added that the churches, parishes, and cathedrals to provide service as vaccination sites so that more people will be vaccinated.
She also urged the public to have themselves vaccinated to avoid severe COVID-19 cases.
The goal of the fourth vaccination drive is to vaccinate about 1.8 individuals in the entire country.
The vaccination drive starts today until March 12, which includes house-to-house vaccination and in job sites.
The government targets to vaccinate about 77 million Filipinos against COVID-19 by the end of March, and 90 million before President Rodrigo Duterte steps down from office by June 30.