PGH to vaccinate 5,000 workers within a week – spox

The Philippine General Hospital (PGH) targets to vaccinate around 5,000 of its workers within one week as part of its COVID-19 inoculation plan, the hospital’s spokesperson said on Wednesday.

PGH spokesperson Dr. Jonas Del Rosario said doctors and nurses would be prioritized.

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“Meron na po kaming sistema in place… Merong priority list, ang uunahin natin lahat frontliners na nag-aalaga sa COVID patients, mga doktor, nurses, paramedics, sila ang mga uunahin,” he said in a Super Radyo DZBB interview.

Next in line would be workers who are not involved in COVID-19 operations and are attending non-COVID patients, followed by PGH’s administrative staff.

“Kung lahat po ng empleyado, kasama na po doktor hanggang down the line sa rank and file, mga secretary na nasa PGH, almost 5,000 po. So we are targeting na within one week ay matapos. Meron na ring schedule,” Del Rosario said.

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He added PGH plans to allocate the first two days of its COVID-19 vaccination plan to doctors and nurses.

The spokesperson noted that the vaccination program is offered to all, but workers could still refuse as vaccination requires that patients give their “informed consent.”

Del Rosario said a survey conducted by PGH among their employees showed that 72% are willing to get vaccinated, 25% responded with “not in the meantime,” while 2% answered, “definitely no.”

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PGH to vaccinate 5,000 workers within a week – spox

“But we don’t know kung ano talaga ‘yung actual [numbers] kasi survey lang naman. Baka kung nandiyan na ‘yung bakuna at alam na nila kung ano rin ‘yung bakuna, baka po madagdagan or mabawasan ‘yung mga magpapabakuna.”

Unlike the military, the hospital’s vaccination program would not be extended to the employees’ families.

According to PGH, lactating and pregnant mothers could be given a COVID-19 vaccine, but the level of COVID-19 community transmission, risk of acquiring the disease, and the potential risk to the unborn should be considered.

Meanwhile, immunocompromised individuals could also get vaccinated against COVID-19 as long as they have no contraindications to vaccinations.

Revaccination is not recommended for those undergoing chemotherapy or taking immunosuppressive drugs and who have since regained their immune competence.

Meanwhile, the PGH admitted that they have no idea yet on what COVID-19 vaccine brand would be used for their health workers.