(PNA photo by Joey Razon)
MANILA – A health official on Monday said it is inappropriate to compare local government units (LGUs) on their performance in the Covid-19 vaccination rollout.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire was responding to a request for a list identifying which LGUs are slow or quick in their inoculation activities.
“Mahirap na magbigay tayo ng ganitong datos kasi parang magiging pangit ang implication nito at interpretation ng ating mga kababayan (It’s difficult to release such data because it will give a bad implication and interpretation among our fellowmen),” she said in an online media forum,
Vergeire said vaccination programs are not the same among LGUs, “whether it be speed, expanse, or scope”. The LGUs, she added, would perform differently as they are not given the same number of vaccine doses. The vaccine distribution in different areas did not start all at the same time.
While LGUs follow a prioritization framework and simultaneous vaccinations plan, Vergeire said they were given authority to further strategize within their areas.
“Binigay natin yan sa kanila dahil sila po ang mas nakakakilala ng kanilang mga constituents. Sila ang nakakaalam kung paano nila mapapabilis o mapapataas ang pagbabakuna (We gave them that [authority] because they know their constituents. They know how they can speed up or increase their vaccination turnouts),” she added.
As of June 21, the National Vaccination Operations Center reported that a total of 8,407,342 jabs have been administered nationwide. Of the total, 6,253,400 have received the first dose while 2,153,942 have completed the required two doses.
The total doses administered in the 16th week of the vaccination rollout reached a record high of 1,461,666 doses. (PNA)
