Vaccination against COVID-19 has been suspended since Tuesday in the town of Tanza, Cavite, after some vaccination team members tested positive for COVID-19, even though some of them have been fully vaccinated.
According to Tanza Municipal Health Officer Dr. Ruth Punzalan, 18 tested positive for COVID-19, including 7 nurses and midwives who serve as vaccinators and 11 barangay health workers.
The results of others who have undergone the swab test are still awaited.
According to Punzalan, those who tested positive had no symptoms of the disease, while others had a fever or a cold.
“[I am] reminding vaccinees na sana ‘pag may nararamdaman sila kahit mild sign ng cold, cough, fever, pananakit ng katawan, ‘wag sana po nilang i-ignore. Sabihin nila sa screener,” said Punzalan.
“May mga ilang na-vaccinate kami na hindi nagsabi ng totoo na kinabukasan, nagkaroon sila ng COVID,” the doctor added.
She said efforts will be made to continue the vaccination in the coming days, but the staff is limited and only at one vaccination site.
The local government of Tanza is also asking the Department of Health for more health workers.
Vaccination in Tanza, Cavite suspended; vaccine team positive for COVID-19
“Naapektuhan talaga ang schedule namin. So we are canceling our schedule for tomorrow and Thursday until magkaroon kami ng malinaw na workforce. Hindi kasi kami maka-commit,” said Punzalan.
According to Punzalan, the increase in COVID-19 cases is felt throughout the province because it is difficult for hospitals to admit new patients.
Some health programs are also affected because some of the positive members of the vaccination team are taking the lead.
“Sa Cavite, full house lahat ang mga hospitals. So, dumami nga ‘yong beds namin kasi may mga ibang pasyente kami na kahit ipila namin sa hospital, wala pong bakante, wala kaming mgagawa,” said Punzalan.
There were 353 active COVID-19 cases in Tanza on record this Tuesday.
Meanwhile, more than 1,000 active cases of COVID-19 were recorded in Imus City, Cavite, where vaccination was also suspended due to lack of supply.
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