House panel OKs bill allowing dentists, medtechs as vaccinators

MANILA – Registered dentists and licensed medical technologists may soon be allowed to serve as vaccinators against Covid-19 as a measure proposing such hurdled committee level at the House of Representatives.

During its online hearing on Wednesday, the House Committee on Health approved House Bill 9354, which seeks to add dentists and medical technologists as vaccinators to help in the inoculation and effective and efficient rollout of the Covid-19 vaccines in the country.

The measure would amend Republic Act 11525 or the Covid-19 Vaccination Program Act of 2021.

Aside from doctors and medical professionals, RA No. 11525 only allows duly trained pharmacists and midwives to administer doses of Covid-19 vaccines approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

Committee chair Angelina Tan, who is also author of the bill, said the proposal does not seek to mandate dentists and medical technologists to take part in the program, but provide the qualifications and guidelines for those who intend to volunteer as vaccinators.

Tan said the addition of dentists and medical technologists as vaccinators will contribute to the expansion of the vaccination program of the nation as more can administer jabs to Filipinos.

“With the arrival of more vaccines in the country, the swift rollout of the vaccine is needed for the efficient administration and prevention of possible expiration of the doses,” Tan said in the bill’s explanatory note.

The National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19 on Monday reported the country has already administered 24,479,750 doses of coronavirus vaccines nationwide.

As of Aug. 9, a total of 13,375,452 individuals already got their first shots while 11,614,590 are fully vaccinated.

According to the World Health Organization, at least 70 percent of the population must be inoculated to achieve herd immunity.

Tan said this is equivalent to approximately more than 70 million Filipinos.