THE Department of Health Central Visayas (DOH 7) is working on acquiring appropriate bio-freezers for the incoming Covid-19 vaccines.
Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, DOH 7 spokesperson, said there is no specific number of doses or a specific vaccine brand to be used in Cebu yet, but DOH 7’s preparations are ongoing. She assured the public that they will hasten this.
Loreche said there is a need to assess the region’s storage capabilities and they are doing inventory on the number of freezers that have a 220-degree capacity and those ultra-low freezers that have -70 degrees.
“We will try to act fast on this so that when the vaccines are ready, we have a place for them,” she said.
She said there are institutions in the region that have these capacities including some molecular laboratories and pharmaceuticals, but she cannot divulge specifics yet pending negotiations.
As of now, she said, those who are administering available vaccines and those barangay health emergency response teams (Bherts) are qualified to do the vaccination.
“We cannot be hiring additional personnel just for the vaccination program. We will be talking with all our personnel and we are conducting retraining and partnering with certain institutions that signified intent to join the vaccination program,” she said.
Loreche said there will also be a series of meetings with doctors, training of trainers and activation of Bherts.
She said they also intend to have a simulation of the vaccination rollout starting from registration to actual vaccination and the measures to be implemented should there be adverse effects secondary to vaccination.
She said there are various types of vaccines available, none of these is approved by the Food and Drugs Administration. Pfizer vaccine though has been issued an emergency use authorization. (WBS)