The Department of Health (DOH) said Thursday that dentists would also become vaccinators, in line with the desire to increase the number of Filipinos who can be vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccines.
According to Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje, they contacted the Professional Regulation Commission and the Philippine Dental Association.
“Upon the recommendation of the Board of Dentistry and concurrence of the PRC with authorization from the DOH… puwede na pong isama ‘yung mga dentist na bakunador basta may kaunting training,” the DOH official said during Kapihan Session.
Cabotaje said dentists need to contact their local government if they want to be vaccinators.
“They should be registered… tapos kailangan, they link with the local government unit. And supervisor ng dentist ay medical doctor. ‘Pag sinabi natin supervisor ibig sabihin may consent, alam ng doctor, ‘yung head ng implementing unit na meron siyang additional dentist,” said Cabotaje.
The official also said the DOH had sent funds to various regions to service those who have been part of the government’s vaccination program.
“Ang DOH po ay nag-provide ng pondo sa iba’t ibang rehiyon natin para maitulong sa ibang lokal na pamahalaan to continue the services of those who have already been hired para magbakuna,” he explained.
Also read: Ages 12-17 can be given COVID-19 vaccine on Nov. 3, 2021
Dentists additional force in injecting COVID-19 vaccines
“Alam natin pagod na pagod na ang health workers natin hindi lang sa pagbabakuna, sa pagresponde din ng ating COVID-19,” Cabotaje added.
Earlier, vaccine czar Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr. announced that vaccines would continue to arrive in the country.
It is also planned to start vaccinating all minors 12 to 17 starting November.
In a previous interview, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said that the target number of vaccinated people outside Metro Manila, which is only 18 to 30 percent, is still far from being reached.
“Ngayon dito sa Metro Manila nasa 80% na tayo. Yung ibang probinsya outside NCR, nasa 18%, nasa 30% so malayo pa,” the secretary said.
The government targets 50 to 70 percent of the population outside Metro Manila to be vaccinated before Christmas.
Visit our Facebook page for more news updates.