Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Carlos Mellado López, reported that starting tomorrow, Thursday, the National Guard’s six vaccination centers will serve the elderly in an effort to increase the vaccination of the most vulnerable population of society.
So far, 52,000 people over 65 have been vaccinated in a population estimated to range from 600 to 800,000 people.
As part of vaccination logistics, leading personnel today are calling the first 300 people in each of the six centers through the shift work platform contracted by Salud. Patients are contacted randomly, taking into account their age. Called persons must provide photo ID, passport or birth certificate confirming their identity and date of birth.
“The priority is clear, as is the instruction I gave last Monday. All healthcare providers who receive vaccines should only vaccinate the population over the age of 65. We need your help with this process, which takes time due to the amount of vaccines available and the complexity of this population. There is no doubt that we are looking for all possible tools to facilitate the process, ”said Mellado.
According to the owner, they will be using a database from the federal health insurance program that contains the vast majority of the population they will serve. After the four (4) weeks they have set aside to serve said population, they will inquire at the end of the established period of steps to follow for those who have not been contacted. The centers are open from Thursday, February 4 to Saturday, February 6, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The vaccination will then remain at the same time from Monday to Friday.
“We have managed to join forces with other providers to receive the information that supports us in quoting our older adults. I am convinced that with this effort we can move forward in the process of achieving the collective immunity we want to achieve, ”said Mellado López.
The new measures are in response to Administrative Decree 2021-480 that has just been signed by the Minister of Health. He also assured that he will guarantee the second dose to health and emergency workers, who must attend the date stated on the vaccination card.
The six National Guard vaccination centers are located in the Centro de Bellas de Caguas; the recreation and sports palace in Mayagüez; the Rubén Rodríguez Coliseum, in Bayamón; Coliseo Petaca Iguina, in Arecibo; the Stock Exchange, in Ponce; and the Pedrín Zorilla Coliseum, in San Juan.
The doctor recalled that the residents of Vieques and Culebra had been vaccinated in mid-January.
On the other hand, Mellado López indicated that the vaccination of teachers in the eight (8) centers is continuing; the Manuel “Petaca” Iguina Coliseum, in Arecibo; Integrated Health Center of the Mountain, in Comerío; Arroyo y Guayama Family Health Center, in Arroyo; Integrated Health Council of Loíza, in Loíza and in the Stock Exchange Complex, in Ponce.