The vaccine roll-out for Cebu City’s barangay health workers started on March 24 at Robinsons Galleria. | Photo Courtesy of Cebu City PIO
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Cebu City Councilor Alvin Dizon is urging the Vaccine Advisory Board (VAB) to ensure that there will be proper disposal of used medical supplies from the vaccination sites.
In a resolution passed by the City Council, Dizon said the city government must be conscious in properly disposing these materials as the roll-out could be an additional burden to the environment with the medical wastes it would accumulate.
Read: Walk-ins, anxiety, cause bottleneck in vaccine roll-out in Cebu City
He noted that the Department of Health (DOH) had issued a memorandum that would oblige local government units (LGU) to properly dispose medical wastes.
Under the Memorandum 2021-0031 on the Interim Guidelines on the Management of Health Care Wastes Generated from COVID-19 Vaccination, all health care facilities involved in the COVID-19 vaccination should have a waste management plan to be observed and complied with accordingly.
“All health care wastes generated in the COVID-19 vaccination activities shall be categorized as hazardous wastes under the sub-classification infectious wastes; C. Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), i.e., closed shoes and shoe cover, apron, long- sleeved gown, gloves, mask, and googles/face shield, shall be used by the health care facility personnel designated in handling, collecting, and collecting the health care wastes from the COVID-19 vaccination,” said the memorandum.
Furthermore, the order said only personnel trained on health care waste risk and safety measures should be designated to handle wastes generated from the COVID-19 vaccination and the infectious and pharmaceutical health care wastes from the COVID-19 vaccination should be properly segregated from other wastes.
Read: Labella to DOH: Set timeline for vaccine roll-out
With this, Dizon and the rest of the City Council urge the city’s executive department to ensure that these orders from DOH will be followed through.
“It is of paramount importance for all involved in the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination to be fully reminded of the existing guidelines and that a comprehensive medical waste disposal plan must be made as an integral part of the City’s vaccination roll-out plan,” said Dizon.
The council has also requested the VAB to integrate a comprehensive medical waste disposal plan in the City’s vaccination rollout plan.
Cebu City is in its last day of the vaccine roll-out for barangay health workers, but more roll-outs will be done as the city plans to procure more in the coming months.
/dbs
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