The Department of Health ramped up Thursday its COVID-19 vaccination campaign to inoculate 52,000 elderly in Metro Manila who have yet to receive a COVID-19 vaccine as the capital grappled with rising cases.
Dr. Gloria Balboa, DOH-Metro Manila regional director, said companions of senior citizens who have yet to be vaccinated may also get inoculated on-site.
“Those who are bedridden will be vaccinated at home. Those who can come to vaccination sites, their companies who are not yet vaccinated may also get the jab,” Balboa said in an interview with ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo.
Senior citizens who are due to receive their booster shot may also get the jab, Balboa said.
“For those who need booster shots, they need to bring their vaccination card so we know what their primary series vaccine was,” she said.
Elderly from other regions may also get vaccinated in Metro Manila and walk-ins are accepted, said Balboa.
The DOH has emphasized the importance of vaccinating the vulnerable sectors of the elderly, persons with comorbidities and health workers as the country faced yet another surge due to the presumed community transmission of the Omicron variant.
The Philippines has so far fully vaccinated 50.6 million individuals, while 57.25 million have received an initial dose and 2.2 million additional shots have been administered as of Tuesday, according to DOH data.