The Philippines is adopting a “no wrong door policy” in its COVID-19 vaccination program, which means Filipinos may be inoculated anywhere in the country.
“This means if you go to Davao, you can get vaccinated even if you are not from Davao),” Health Usec. Maria Rosario Vergeire said.
“We are not closing our doors even if you are not from that area,” she added.
Earlier this month, former Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, a Tarlac resident, received his first COVID-19 vaccine shot in Davao City after visiting Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.
Teodoro was accompanied by former Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr., who also got inoculated in Davao City.
However, Vergeire said the Department of Health is discouraging local government units from entertaining individuals who come to vaccination sites without appointments.
She said walk-in vaccinations tend to result in crowding, which makes the probability of virus transmission higher.
But in Manila, the local government reallowed walk-ins after initially disallowing it Monday following a low vaccination turnout.
Earlier in the day, the city said people must first register online and wait for a scheduled confirmation through a text message before going to vaccination sites.
But at around 4:30 p.m. the City Public Information Office said Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso allowed walk-ins anew.
On Sunday, Manila recorded an all-time high in daily vaccinations with 27,642 individuals inoculated.
