AT least 50 percent of the population in the National Capital Region (NCR) and six other high-risk areas must be vaccinated for the country to begin containing the virus, the OCTA research group said on Monday.
According to OCTA’s research, the local governments with the highest average daily attack rate (ADAR) or frequency of COVID-19 case incidence per population size are the NCR, Tuguegarao City, City of Santiago in Isabela, Baguio City, Cainta in Rizal, Cebu City and Imus City in Cavite.
The research group has also suggested a different distribution of vaccine supplies across the country to more effectively reach the needed 50 percent vaccination rate prescribed.
Under their suggestions, some 40 to 45 percent of vaccines should go to the NCR, 15 to 20 percent to the CALABARZON regions, 10 percent to central Luzon, six percent to Central Visayas, four percent to Western Visayas, and the remaining 20 percent for the rest of the country not tagged as priority areas based on ADAR and case incidence.
Under that proposed vaccine distribution scheme, the country would require some more or less 16 million doses to vaccinate 7.98 million people in the high-risk areas.
OCTA also said that a 40 percent vaccination rate in moderate to high-risk areas will require another 7.3 million doses, while moderate-risk areas will require three million doses for 30 percent vaccination rates.
Overall, the research group projects the need for some 30 to 35 million vaccines rolled out by year- end prior to the country being able to take on COVID-19 containment.
To answer the city’s demand, Mayor Benjamin Magalong ordered the adoption of contingency plans to ensure smooth and convenient vaccination schedules and processes during the rainy season.
The mayor led the Management Committee (MANCOM) composed of the department heads in an observation tour of the four main vaccination sites at the University of Baguio, St. Louis University, St. Vincent and SM Baguio last May 25 to assess the procedures and situations first hand.
The team convened afterwards to discuss and recommend solutions to the problems identified.
They agreed to streamline the process by adopting a unified and paperless system to improve the speed and to provide more support systems like putting up more directional signs, public address systems, music and sound systems to ensure convenience for the vaccinees.
For the UB venue where limited space and influx of people often caused discomfort, the officials agreed to restrategize by reducing the number of barangays and residents assigned and request the use of more available buildings to control the inflow of people and eliminate queues outside.
The City Health Services Office and the Management Information Technical Division of the City Mayor’s Office will roll out the optimized vaccination process which will reduce the steps from five to just three along with the improved system of pre-registration masterlisting.
The mayor said the city will enhance the involvement of the barangays in the pre-registration aspect to avoid walk-in online registration that slows down the process.
He said onsite inspections will be done regularly to continually fine tune the procedures based on the needs and developments that will arise.
“This is needed to help our City Health Services Office (CHSO) which despite the odds and the overwhelming tasks, continues to do a great job considering their limited resources and manpower,” the mayor said. – with reports from
Aileen P. Refuerzo
