Pharmacists, midwives to be trained as vaccinators

The Department of Health (DOH) is also now planning to train other health professionals as COVID-19 vaccinators to have enough personnel by the time the vaccination program begins.

Health Undersecretary Dr. Myrna Cabotaje that they and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials are studying to train licensed pharmacists in the country as vaccinators.

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Under the Pharmacy Law, pharmacists are allowed to administer vaccines as well as doctors and nurses.

It is also being studied whether licensed midwives can become vaccinators.

According to the DOH, health professionals only need more training, vaccine knowledge, and the supervision of doctors who need to be at the vaccination venue.

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The FDA is set to formulate guidelines on the vaccination program and who can be tapped to implement it.

Last week, vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Jr. said that there are around 25,000 vaccinators undergoing training as the start of COVID-19 vaccination in the country nears.

He added local government units (LGUs) especially in the National Capital Region (NCR) are already finalizing their lists of individuals who would receive the free COVID-19 vaccines from the government.

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“We are training more or less 25,000 vaccinators,” he said in an interview on ANC.

“’Yung ating mga LGUs lalo na dito sa NCR nagko-consolidate na sila ng mga master list ng mga magpa-participate sa nationwide vaccination,” he added.

Also read: Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine only costs P650 per dose – Roque

Pharmacists, midwives to be trained as vaccinators

The Philippine government targets to innoculate 50 to 60 million Filipinos this year.

According to the vaccine czar, around 50,000 Filipinos are expected to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by the end of February.

The first batch of the immunization will serve as the “rehearsal” of the government’s national rollout of inoculation.

“Magkakaroon tayo ng national rollout. So ito ‘yung tinatawag natin na rehearsal para matuto ‘yung ating mga vaccinator at para makita natin ‘yung assimilations kung paano natin gagawin ang nationwide rollout,” he added.

Galvez said the vaccinators already attended lectures on the vaccination and this “rehearsal” will serve as their “practical exercise.”

He added more Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines would be delivered to the Philippines in the next months.