MANILA, PHILIPPINES — On Sunday, March 20, 2022, BJMP Spokesperson Jail Superintendent Xavier Solda announced that over 92 percent of inmates (PDLs) in jails controlled by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) have got full immunization against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

In a radio interview on Sunday, BJMP spokeswoman Chief Inspector Xavier Solda revealed that out of 129,283 PDL, 119,175 have at least one of the primary dosages.

Booster doses were given to a total of 76,151 PDLs.

In total, 6.5 percent of inmates are awaiting their second vaccinations, whereas 4.81 percent, or 6,215 inmates, have still not been vaccinated.

“We have to schedule the vaccination and coordinate it too with DOH (Department of Health) and the local health units since most of these PDL are newly committed while few have medical concerns,” Solda said.

“We are targeting the soonest time possible and available vaccines,” he continued.

For the immunization of the PDLs, he said that the BJMP is in close contact with local government entities as well as the Department of Health (DOH).

Since the Covid-19 pandemic began in 2020, the virus has infected 5,019 PDLs.

The fatal toll from Covid-19 among detainees was 54, with 4,886 recovered.

PDL with Covid-like symptoms are also taken to “Ligtas (Safe) Covid Centers.”

Meanwhile, Solda stated that the BJMP continues to follow safety standards, including frequent disinfection in all facilities and enough ventilation to avoid the virus from spreading in cells.

“We are always mindful sa karapatan ng ating PDL para sa mabuting kalusugan kaya kasama lagi sila sa pagprograma ng bakunahan sa ating mga piitan,” Solda said.

(We are always mindful to the right of our PDL’s to have good health, so they are always involved in the vaccination program in our prisons.”)

“The vaccination is an added protection for our PDL in this time of the pandemic. In fact, aside from Covid-19 vaccine, we are also providing flu and pneumococcal vaccines to them to boost their health,” he added.

– WhatALife!

Source: (pna.gov.ph, sunstar.com.ph)

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