Govt mulls 24/7 Covid-19 vaccination drive

THE government is considering a 24-hour vaccination drive in the country once the bulk of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) doses arrive, an official of the National Task Force against Covid-19 said on Wednesday.

Deputy Chief Implementer Vivencio “Vince” Dizon told the Laging Handa public briefing in Filipino on Wednesday that while the proposal is under review, “we also have to manage the situation of our vaccinators”.

He said medical frontliners can take on two to three shifts a day to hasten the inoculation of the general population.

Dizon said the government is eyeing to vaccinate up to 300,000 Filipinos per day to achieve its goal of inoculating up to 70 million once the bulk of the vaccines arrives.

Dizon said the government is confident about the supply and “with the help of the LGUs (local government units), private firms, we will be able to reach the target. What we need right now are supplies”.

Dizon also expressed confidence that the government will be able to reach its target of inoculating 50 to 70 million Filipinos but pointed out that this will happen only if the vaccines secured by the government will be delivered on time.