ILOILO – This province is the first local government unit in Western Visayas and among the earliest in the country to secure approval from the Department of Health (DOH) for its coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination plan.
Dr. Jane Juanico, head of DOH Region 6’s Infectious Disease Section, said the provincial government could now rollout its COVID-19 Vaccine Deployment and Immunization Plan 2021-2022 (COVAC PLAN 21-22).
There were no major revisions in COVAC PLAN 21-22, according to Juanico.
“Okay gid ang vaccination plan. Almost all aspects sang ginatan-aw naton nga processes na-touch gid nila,” said Juanico.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. submitted the COVAC PLAN 21-22 to the DOH on Feb. 4.
The governor then issued Executive Order No. 036, series of 2021, adopting the COVAC PLAN 21-22 of the province.
The 51-page master plan will synchronize the vaccine deployment and vaccination plan of the province with the national government’s framework.
COVAC PLAN 21-22 aims to ensure that all eligible citizens in the province will have free, effective, safe and high-quality vaccines against COVID-19.
The plan fleshes out these major components:
* planning and coordination
* financing and funding mechanisms
* identification of eligible population
* vaccination procurement and delivery strategies
* cold chain, supply and healthcare waste management
* human resource management and training
* acceptance and uptake
* vaccine immunization safety monitoring, AEFI/AESI, and post marketing surveillance and management, and pharmacovigilance
* immunization, registration, monitoring and data management systems
According to Defensor, some of these components have been implemented already such as the signing of a tripartite agreement with British pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca and the national government for COVID-19 vaccines; identification of vaccination sites; registration of eligible population; and preparation of cold storage facilities.
In early December, the province placed an order for 270,000 doses of AZD1222 Vaccine from AztraZeneca. An initial budget of P95 million was allotted.
The COVAC PLAN will be implemented in three phases.
Phase 1 includes the administration of initial doses of the vaccine on a limited basis, with the prioritization of the initial populations of focus.
To be prioritized are healthcare workers such as those in capitol-run health facilities, local government unit contact tracers, barangay workers including members of the Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams, barangay nutrition scholars, and barangay tanods, among others.
Apart from frontliners, senior citizens and persons with comorbidities would also be the first to be vaccinated.
Phase 2 covers the expansion of the vaccination to a larger population upon the availability of larger quantities of vaccine.
The third phase is making the vaccine widely available and integrating it into routine vaccination programs, run by both public and private partners.
The COVAC PLAN also identifies specific priorities and activities to be undertaken by concerned capitol offices in coordination with the DOH and other concerned agencies.
Moreover, Juanico noted that the provincial government is gearing up to assist its 42 towns and the component city Passi in making their respective vaccination plans.
“While natapos na ang provincial level nila, gin-share man sang provincial government nga they are assisting local governments ga ma-finalize man ang COVID vaccination plan,” Juanico said.
Juanico earlier confirmed that Iloilo province was so far the only local government unit to publish and submit a vaccination scheme in Western Visayas.
As to other provinces and highly urbanized cities in the region, Juanico said they are currently reviewing their crafted plans.
“(Ang) iban nga mga provinces amat-amat gina-review sang aton field personnel kag in constant communication para mag-discuss kon ano pa madugang sa ila plan,” Juanico said./PN
