COVID-19 vaccine doses brought to far-flung areas in Mindanao via drones

COVID-19 vaccine doses have been delivered to residents in far-flung areas in Mindanao with the help of drones.

According to Lei Alviz’s “24 Oras” report Thursday, the drones reached Tawi-Tawi and Agusan del Sur just eight minutes after takeoff. The delivery would have taken hours through other modes of transportation.

The vaccines, which were enclosed in cold chain packaging, were immediately administered to the beneficiaries which included senior citizens and children aged 12-17 years old.

The medical drones project was spearheaded by non-profit organization Philippine Flying Labs with the help of drone mapping experts from SRDP Consulting Inc.

According to Philippine Flying Labs, each medical drone can transport up to 100 vaccine doses. It also said the initiative was the first of its kind in the country and in Southeast Asia.

“Yung pinaka-remote areas na hindi naaabot, why are they not getting the same services as we are who are here in urban areas? What’s the best way to reach them? Rather than making them go, we’ll bring the services sa bahay nila,” said Dr. Heidi Sampang, Philippine Flying Labs president.

Philippine Flying Labs worked with SRDP Consulting Inc., who volunteered to give their “engineering capabilities” for the project.

In collaboration with the health department and the local government, the medical cargo drone deliveries will resume in Tawi-Tawi in May. The project’s implementation in other areas is also being studied.

Meanwhile, OCTA Research Prof. Guido David said the vaccine coverage in some parts of the Philippines, including Mindanao, still needed to be increased.

“Sa urban areas natin, mataas na ’yung vaccine coverage. We’ve reached the targets, mga 70-80% of the population. In many rural areas, especially mga island provinces, especially sa BARMM and Batanes, for example, the vaccine coverage is still low,” he said. – Franchesca Viernes/RC, GMA News