PNP prepares to secure vax drive for general population, minors

 By Susan G. de Leon

CALOOCAN CITY, (PIA) --Philippine National Police (PNP) offices and units prepare to provide the necessary assistance in the vaccination of the general population and minors by October.

 This as President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has approved the inoculation of the general population, including minors, beginning next month as there were many vaccine doses that have arrived and are expected to arrive in the coming weeks.

 “Inatasan ko na ang ating kapulisan na maghanda para sa malawakang pagbabakuna sa susunod na buwan. Sa ganitong sitwasyon na mas marami na ang maaaring mabakunahan, mas kinakailangan ang serbisyo ng ating mga pulis upang masigurong maayos ang magiging sistema sa ating mga vaccination areas,” PNP Chief, PGen Guillermo Eleazar said.

 “Hindi naman na bago para sa ating mga kapulisan ang pagtulong sa ating vaccination rollout. Tiwala ako na alam na nila ang gagawin upang masigurong nasusunod ang minimum health standards sa ating mga vaccination sites,” he added.

 Eleazar said the they are continuously conducting accounting of PNP personnel who have medical background to assist in the vaccination of the general population.

 The Chief PNP earlier committed the PNP’s Medical Reserve Force to assist in taking care of COVID patients due to shortage of medical facilities and healthworkers amid the continuous rise of infection cases.

 He also offered police camps and other facilities for the vaccination of the dependents of the PNP personnel, particularly those between 12 years old to 17 years old, in order to decongest the vaccination sites of the Local Government Units.

 Eleazar also directed police offices to coordinate with the local government units as regards the schedule and if there will be adjustments during the vaccination of the general population.

 Further, the Chief PNP also urged police officers to help in the continuing efforts to educate the public about the benefit and importance of COVID-19 vaccines.

 “May mga kababayan pa rin tayo na hindi pa buo ang loob na magpabakuna. Maging instrument sana tayo upang mahikayat sila na maging protektado laban sa nakamamatay na COVID-19,” Eleazar said.

 The President had said the normalcy in the country may return after two to three years.   So far, over 20 million Filipinos are already fully vaccinated against COVID-19. (PNP/PIA-NCR)