The Department of Health on Thursday said house-to-house vaccination for COVID-19 will only be allowed for those who are not able to visit vaccination centers such as seniors and bedridden patients.
“The general policy is to conduct the vaccination at a fixed site – either at a hospital or offsite such as gymnasiums and schools,” said Myrna Cabotaje, Health undersecretary for field implementation and vaccination coordination, in a Teleradyo interview.
She said a number of municipalities and cities have begun implementing house-to-house vaccination, particularly for seniors.
Senator Joel Villanueva, for his part, said the government should consider piloting two new modes of vaccinating senior citizens – at home and drive-thru, for groups most at-risk to COVID-19.
“Some are sick, or are physically incapacitated. For these people, a drive-thru system where they can remain in the comfort of their vehicles would be a good idea. But the best option is still home delivery,” he said.
“If they cannot go to the vaccines, let the vaccines come to them,” Villanueva added.
He said many seniors have no one to accompany them to vaccination centers.
“To some of them, the internet is like Mars. They don’t even have Facebook, how can we expect them to do online booking for their vaccination?” he said.
Meanwhile, at the House of Representatives, a female legislator also urged the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to allow home vaccination for house-bound persons.
“Alternatively, barangay officers could seek them out. They could request for volunteer doctors or nurses who could do the vaccination so as not to further burden healthcare workers in local government immunization centers. The DOH and the LGUs could just monitor the home inoculation,”said Assistant Majority Leader Precious Hipolito Castelo.