NTF, Makati apologize over tired volunteer nurse’s lapse

MANILA – The viral video of a Makati health care worker who allegedly forgot to inject the Covid-19 jab to a female recipient, after inserting the needle into her arm, was an “isolated case”.

National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19 Deputy Chief Implementer Secretary Vince Dizon on Monday appealed for understanding and said the incident was unintentional.

“It was clearly an isolated case of a health care worker whom I think was really very, very tired at that time,” Dizon said during an interview at the Valenzuela Astrodome where he witnessed a vaccination activity.

Dizon said the Department of Health (DOH) and the vaccine task force immediately probed the violation of vaccination protocol caught on video.

The incident was also reported to the Makati Mayor’s Office.

The patient went back to the vaccination site the day after and got her dose, Dizon added.

“You have to understand our health care workers are working round the clock. They are really very tired,” Dizon said.

Apologies

Makati Mayor Abigail Binay likewise apologized, saying it was a “human error” that “was immediately corrected”.

“We acknowledge the video. It was human error on the part of the volunteer nurse. Volunteer po siya na nurse. That was immediately corrected. This happened June 25, and June 26 bumalik po siya (vacinee) sa aming tanggapan at pinakita po ang video at nakita naman po na hindi ho nga siya nabakunahan kung kaya’t binigyan ho siya agad ng bakuna (the person went back to our office and showed the video to us and as soon as we saw that no vaccination happened, we immediately gave the person a shot),” Binay said during the media briefing.

Binay likewise appealed for understanding and emphasized all front-liners are working hard to continue providing services amid the pandemic.

She also pleaded that netizens stop bashing the nurse, especially without enough evidence.

“Maawa naman po kayo sa nurse na nagkusang-loob na nag-volunteer ng kaniyang oras para lang po magsilbi sa ating mga kababayan. Tao lang po ang ating front-liners, napapagod, nagkakamali (Have pity on the nurse who volunteered her time just to serve our countrymen. Our front-liners are humans, get tired, can make mistakes),” Binay said.

“Humihingi po siya at kami ng patawad, at nagbibigay din po kami ng assurance na hindi na po ito mangyayari muli (The nurse has already apologized and we are giving assurance that it will not happen again),” she added.