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Government urged to boost health centers instead of building 'mega vaccination' hubs

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Katrina Domingo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/news/05/12/20210512-makati-medical-center-pfizer-vaccination-gc-0233-s.jpg"/><figcaption>A health worker administers the Comirnaty COVID19 vaccine of Pfizer BioNTech to a resident of Makati on May 12, 2021. <em>George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA - The Philippines should strengthen its health system instead of building &quot;mega vaccination&quot; sites, a doctor said Wednesday.</p><p>There is no need to build new facilities as health centers in barangays are capable of administering COVID-19 vaccines provided that they are given sufficient equipment, training, and additional manpower, said Dr. Edelina de la Paz, National Coordinator of the People&#x27;s Health Movement Philippines.</p><p>&quot;I don&#x27;t believe in mega vaccination sites because we have to provide at the point of care,&quot; she said in an online forum.</p><p>&quot;You don&#x27;t have to build new buildings. You don&#x27;t have to cut down trees. Make use of your existing health centers,&quot; she said.</p><p>The national government&#x27;s plan to build a mega vaccination facility in a forested area was earlier criticized online, with netizens and environmentalists saying Filipinos can be vaccinated without cutting more trees in the city.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/05/11/21/palace-says-mega-vaccination-site-in-paraaque-will-be-temporary">Palace says mega vaccination site in Parañaque will be temporary</a></li></ul><p>Port magnate Enrique Razon, whose International Container Terminal Services Inc (ICTSI) Foundation has secured government approval to build an 8 to 10-hectare mega-vaccination facility, said the area was a reclaimed property and not an urban forest.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/05/12/21/enrique-razon-ictsi-mega-vaccine-facility-nayong-pilipino-foundation">Mega-vaccination facility to rise in &#x27;empty reclaimed land&#x27;, not a forest: ICTSI&#x27;s Razon</a></li></ul><p>De la Paz said it would be better for the government to avoid vaccinations in enclosed spaces as COVID-19 tends to spread faster in enclosed spaces.</p><p>&quot;Kapag nagkaroon ka ng mega vaccination, you are introducing a lot of people in a one-space area,&quot; she said.</p><p>The Philippines hopes to inoculate some 70 million Filipinos this year to achieve herd immunity against COVID-19, but as of May 11, only 500,000 Filipinos have received 2 doses of the vaccine, according to data from the Department of Health.</p><p>Some 2 million other have been inoculated with their first dose, but have yet to receive the second jab.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/12/21/government-urged-to-distribute-covid-19-vaccine-stock-to-private-sector-for-faster-rollout">Government urged to distribute COVID-19 vaccine stock to private sector for faster rollout</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/12/21/ph-cant-use-new-batch-of-astrazeneca-jabs-outside-top-3-covax-priority-sectors-official">PH can&#x27;t use new batch of AstraZeneca jabs outside top 3 COVAX priority sectors- official</a></li></ul><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1683077" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>The Philippines should strengthen its health system instead of building mega vaccination sites, a doctor said Wednesday.</p>

The Philippines should strengthen its health system instead of building mega vaccination sites, a doctor said Wednesday.

Government urged to boost health centers instead of building 'mega vaccination' hubs

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Government urged to boost health centers instead of building 'mega vaccination' hubs

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 12, 2021 07:36 PM PHT

Read More:

COVID-19

coronavirus

mega vaccination site

health centers

health

COVID-19 vaccination

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