Several lawmakers filed a measure seeking to add dentists and medical technologists as vaccinators to help in the inoculation and effective and efficient rollout of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines in the country.
House Committee on Health chair Angelina Tan, along with Marikina City Representative Stella Quimbo and Quezon City Representative Kit Belmonte, filed House Bill 9354 which seeks to amend Republic Act (RA) 11525 or the COVID-19 Vaccination Program Act of 2021.
Aside from doctors and medical professionals, RA No. 11525 only allows duly trained pharmacists and midwives to administer doses of COVID-19 vaccines approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
Tan said the addition of dentists and medical technologists as vaccinators will contribute to the expansion of the vaccination program of the nation as more can administer jabs to Filipinos.
“With the arrival of more vaccines, the swift rollout of the vaccine is needed to prevent possible expiration of the doses.”
“With the arrival of more vaccines in the country, the swift rollout of the vaccine is needed for the efficient administration and prevention of possible expiration of the doses,” the legislator said in the bill’s explanatory note.
Citing government data, the legislator said a total of 2,282,273 Filipinos have already been vaccinated as of 16 May 2021.
“At least 70% of the population must be inoculated to achieve herd immunity.”
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at least 70 percent of the population must be inoculated to achieve herd immunity.
She said this is equivalent to approximately more than 70 million Filipinos.