SAN JOSE, Antique – A total of 110 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) availed themselves of vaccines against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) conducted by the Antique Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) on Monday.
IPHO information officer Irene Dulduco said the one-day vaccination was held at the Antique Rehabilitation Center (ARC) in Binirayan Hills, Barangay 8 here.
“The PDLs belonged to the A5 (indigent) priority group, but then there were also some senior citizens,” she said.
Fourteen of the vaccinees were elderly; they got the vaccines developed by US-based Moderna and Pfizer.
ARC jail warden Eduardo Ebon said the jail facility has a total of 145 PDLs. Those who were unable to avail themselves of vaccination on Monday would have their turn at a later date.
“All the PDLs wanted to be vaccinated but I learned that the health officers ran out of vaccines,” he said.
PDLs are considered to be a high-risk group for COVID-19 infection because “there are 20 PDLs in one cell…it’s quite hard for them to maintain social distancing,” Ebon said.
So far, the ARC remains COVID-free.
“But it’s much helpful if the PDLs are vaccinated,” said Ebon. (PNA)
