The vaccine roll-out for Cebu City’s barangay health workers started on March 24 at the Robinsons Galleria. | Photo Courtesy of Cebu City PIO
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Cebu City Health Department (CHD) is more than willing to accept walk-ins at the city’s vaccination sites.
But first, there is a need for the Department of Health to clarify its policy on walk-ins, says Doctor Jeffrey Ibones, the CHD’s officer-in-charge.
Earlier, Ibones said they were instructed by DOH-7 not to accept walk-ins to avoid the gathering of a huge crowd at their vaccination centers.
On June 22, health officials encouraged local governments to accommodate walks as the country is trying to reach herd immunity the soonest possible time.
“Willing man ta modawat og walk-ins basta nakaregister lang sila online. Ang problema, ang giingon man gud sa DOH bawal ang walk-ins mao na nag scheduling ta. Pero kung moingon sila nga pwede na, ngano dili gud tawn nato dawaton?” said Ibiones.
(We are willing to accommodate walk-ins who have registered online. But the problems is that DOH earlier said that walk-ins are not allowed that is why we decide to implement scheduling. But if they are to say that we can already accommodate walk-ins, who shouldn’t we?)
Ibones is asking DOH-7 officials to clarify this policy to avoid confusion and to properly guide local governments.
At present, the Cebu City government discourages walk-ins at its vaccination sites. Walk-ins are advised to registered online and wait for their schedule.
Other walk-ins are allowed to wait until after CHD personnel are able to inoculate those who are scheduled for the day and if there are still remaining vaccines for use.
But there is minimal change for this to happen because their allocation is just enough for the day’s inoculation schedule. This only happens when someone, who has preregistered, do not show up for his/her scheduled inoculation.
Cebuanos who wanted to register online can visit pabakuna.com.ph. / dcb