Gordon files bill expanding pool of vaccinators

MANILA – Senator Richard Gordon has filed a bill seeking to expand the country’s pool of vaccinators for the implementation of the government’s national program for immunization in times of epidemics, pandemics, and national health emergencies.

“Since we have limited number of doctors, nurses and midwives that will aid in the Covid-19 vaccination program, we filed a bill that expands the pool of vaccinators of the DOH (Department of Health) by training other professionals such as dentists, veterinarians, medical technologists and even those without medical background to be vaccinators,” Gordon said in a news release on Wednesday.

Filed on Monday, Section 1 of Senate Bill (SB) No. 1987 states that non-medical practitioners that will be part of the training will be allowed provided that they will be given the appropriate training, certification and authority by the DOH, and that they will perform their duties under the supervision of a duly registered physician and for a limited period only contingent upon the existence of the national health emergency for which it is called.

According to DOH, there are only 617,239 health care workers coming from both public and private health institutions who will help in administering the Covid-19 vaccines.

“If we expand the manpower for the vaccination program, the government’s target of inoculating 50 to 70 million Filipinos to be able to achieve herd immunity or population immunity can be attained,” Gordon said.

He said the proposed bill also aims to improve the country’s Expanded Program on Immunization and “achieve the government’s target of vaccinating 95 percent of the country’s total child population.”

SB 1987 gives the Secretary of DOH the authority to order for the training and certification of additional vaccinators in times of epidemic, pandemic, and national health emergencies or when the government is in danger of not meeting its target in its yearly immunization due to lack of vaccinators.

The World Health Organization declared the Covid-19 pandemic as a global health emergency. (PR)