Duque designates Vergeire as next head of NVOC

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire has been appointed as the next head of the National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC), the Department of Health said Wednesday.

The DOH said Health Secretary Francisco Duque III designated Vergeire as the succeeding incident manager of NVOC, replacing outgoing NVOC chairperson Myrna Cabotaje.

Cabotaje will finish her term on June 30.

“This succession is meant to avoid gaps in the implementation of the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination program, as the new administration transitions in,” the DOH said.

This was confirmed by Vergeire at a media briefing.

However, she said this is subject to change.

“I will be replacing si Usec. Cabotaje po para sa National Vaccine Operations Center. That is the assignment. Pero siyempre kapag pumasok po ‘yung bagong administrasyon, maari pa rin po magbago ‘yan,” Vergeire said.

Vergeire extended her gratitude to Cabotaje for all her efforts and “excellent way of leading.”

“‘Yan po ay napakalaking feat para sundan pero kami po ay committed to continue on with the work here dito sa DOH, dito sa National Vaccine Operation Center,” she said.

(This is a large feat to follow but we are committed to continuing on with the work here in the DOH, here in the NVOC.)

Vergeire said all strategies are in place and implementing units have been mobilized from the start.

“Siguro kailangan na lang pagusapan maigi paano tayo makakapag generate ng more demand, specifically for boosters. Kami po ay makikipag usap ng mas malaki siguro at mas regular, although sila Usec. Myrna ginagawa na ‘yan. So that we can focus more on those areas na may mabababang coverage, makapagbigay ng assistance, at saka ng guidance para maitaas pa ang antas ng pagbabakuna,” she said.

(Maybe we need to discuss more deeply how we can generate more demand, specifically for boosters. We will reach out more regularly, although Usec. Myrna is already doing this, so we can focus more on those areas that have low coverage and to give assistance as well as guidance to increase the level of vaccination.)

For her part, Cabotaje said the country’s vaccination program “will be in good hands.” — RSJ, GMA News