Senior citizens situated in remote or geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) will be prioritized in the upcoming rollout of Johnson and Johnson’s Janssen coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccine in Region 12 (Soccsksargen).
Dr. Aristides Concepcion Tan, Department of Health-Region 12 director, said Tuesday the preparations are underway for the distribution and utilization of the vaccines in selected GIDA areas in the region.
“These are far-flung areas in Region 12 that are usually difficult to reach,” he said in an interview.
The DOH central office delivered to the region on Monday some 148,700 doses of the Janssen vaccine from the 3.2 million doses donated so far by the United States.
Tan said the rollout of the vaccine will be a huge help in the ongoing expansion of mass vaccination activities in the area as it only requires a single dose.
He said it will allow them to accommodate in the process more eligible individuals under the priority group A2 or senior citizens.
The official said they are continually increasing their vaccination coverage daily in coordination with the rural health units to meet the country’s population protection target by the end of the year.
“Our vaccine deliveries have been increasing as more supplies are also arriving in the region,” Tan said.
Last week, the region received some 45,700 doses of AstraZeneca and 2,400 doses of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccines.
These are intended for the first dose of the remaining eligible individuals under priority groups A1 (frontline health care workers), A2, and A3 (persons with comorbidities).
DOH-12 has yet to formally start the region-wide inoculation for those under A4 (essential government and private workers) but some 3,999 private employees here and in Koronadal City have started to undergo vaccination through the initiative of the business sector.
Source: Philippines News Agency
