President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday urged local government units to use “advanced approaches” to expedite the administration of Covid-19 vaccines and avoid exposing recipients to more risks.
In a televised address, Duterte said technology must be utilized to ensure a more sufficient vaccine distribution process.
“Making them queue for an hour or longer exposes them to other risk. Please use technology and advanced approaches to make sure the entire process is more effective,” he said.
Duterte said barangay chiefs should make use of their constituent lists and come up with vaccination schedules themselves.
“Lahat barangay captain has a list of the people in his barangay. It behooves upon you guys to make sure that they are given the numbers and on appointed time and not make them [line up],” he said.
“Huwag ninyong palinyahin init kasi eh magkakasakit rin ‘yan eh. It’s just the same. The very thing that you are trying to avoid will happen if you do not do that. Kaya ‘yang advanced approaches to make the entire process more effective is give them a card,” he added.
Duterte also stressed that the sale of vaccination slots was illegal.
“All vaccines of our people are given for free, libre ‘yan. Huwag kayong magbayad. Wala kayong gastusin niyan. Pumunta lang kayo doon sa nagbabakuna at babakunahan ka libre. Selling vaccination slot goes against the principle of equitable vaccine distribution,” he said.
The country has administered 5.18 million vaccine doses as of May 30. John Ezekiel J. Hirro