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The Department of Health (DOH) revealed on Friday that they are analyzing three strategic areas in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao to ensure the smooth implementation of the government’s mass vaccination campaign against Covid-19.
Metro Manila will serve as a “central hub” for all vaccines, said Undersecretary of Health María Rosario Vergeire, adding that the government plans to establish cold chain centers in Bicol, Cebu and Zamboanga.
“We are looking for feasible areas where we can have these cold chain centers, but definitely the backbone would be in Metro Manila,” Vergeire said in a mix of Filipino and English on an online media forum.
He said they are also requesting the assistance of the private sector, prominent in establishing cold storage facilities.
“So from now on, our plan is to have four cold rooms and two freezers in Metro Manila,” he added.
Ready to meet requirements
Elmer Sarmiento, a member of the Philippine Cold Chain Association, has expressed his support for the government “in its quest to distribute the vaccine to the whole world.”
In a webinar hosted by the Philippines Graphic and BusinessMirror, Sarmiento said that some of its members are ready to meet the government’s requirements.
“We will adjust and align with respect to the roadmap and depending on the action plans and procurement procedures,” said Sarmiento, who is also President and CEO of Royal Cargo Inc.
As for vaccines that would require storage at minus 20 degrees Celsius, he said they have 500,000 pallet positions: 50 percent in Luzon, 20 percent in Visayas and 30 percent in Mindanao.
He said they also have some members with ultra-low freezers, for vaccines that must be kept at -80 degrees Celsius.
“We will formalize our action plan and support the Secretary [Carlito] Galvez [Jr.] in their eagerness to distribute the vaccine, “he said.
Preparing for the holiday surge
In a related development, Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III conducted an inspection at the facilities of the Dr. José N. Rodríguez Memorial Hospital and Sanatorium (Hospital Tala) on Friday to verify the readiness of the hospitals for a possible Covid spike. -19. cases during and after the Christmas season.
Duque, together with Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega, Undersecretary Elmer Punzalan and the director in charge of the Metro Manila Center for Health Development, Corazón Flores, were received by the director of the Tala Hospital, Alfonso Victorino Famaran, the chief of medical staff and professional, Dave Elvin Sanches, and Chief Nursing Officer Samuel Cortez Sumilang.
“Our strategy from the beginning of the pandemic was to transition our facilities and services to exclusively serve Covid-19 patients to relieve pressure on our health capacity system. We simply retain the current settings to prepare for the possible increase in Covid-19 cases due to the holiday season. We also dedicated 63 percent of our actual 800-bed capacity, which is 30 percent more than what is required, ”explained Dr. Famaran while leading the inspection and explaining his strategy to significantly reduce their Covid-19 cases. and the preparations before an advance. wave of cases.
Duque recognized the hospital’s successful response during the height of the pandemic and said that “the Tala hospital is an excellent example and should serve as an inspiration to other institutions, private and public, in their strategy to address the possible increase in Covid cases. -19. They prepared more than what was required from their experience as a referral site for patients from other hospitals. “
He called on the public to celebrate the holidays safely and to religiously respect minimum standards of public health.
“With constant disinfection and physical distancing, we not only ensure the health and safety of our family and friends, but we also give our healthcare heroes the opportunity to celebrate with their families as well,” he said.
At 4 p.m. on December 11, the total number of Covid-19 cases in the country rose to 447,039. There are 409,329 recoveries and 8,709 deaths.
Of the cases
Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs reported that the number of Filipinos (OF) abroad infected with Covid-19 increased to more than 12,290.
The DFA added that there was an increase in both confirmed Covid-19 cases and recoveries among Filipinos abroad, with 591 new cases and 419 new recoveries in Asia and the Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Those who have recovered and discharged were about 8,000 cases, while those who are in treatment remain at 3,433. Meanwhile, 13 new deaths were recorded.
With Straight Mercene
