The Bacolod City government has opened its COVID-19 vaccination program to the general public starting Monday, October 11, making all Bacolod residents aged 18 and above qualified to receive jabs regardless of their priority groups.
Bacolod Mayor Evelio Lenoardia is also expected to issue an executive order that will allow fully vaccinated travelers to enter the city without negative RT-PCR test results, Dr. Chris Sorongon, Emergency Operations Center (EOC) deputy, said Tuesday.
The EOC-Task Force opened its vaccination program to the general public in view of the high death rate due to COVID-19 that was recorded in September 2021.
Everyone is now a “top priority,” EOC-TF Executive Director and COVID-19 Vaccination Council (CoVaC) Coordinator Em Ang said.
Ang said 168 COVID-19 deaths were recorded in September, and 140 of the fatalities were unvaccinated.
“Like everything in life, this is an ongoing risk assessment. If it is raining and you’ll be outdoors, you bring an umbrella. If you are in a crowded gathering, potentially with unvaccinated people, you put your mask on and keep social distancing. If you are unvaccinated and eligible for the vaccine, the best thing you can do is to get vaccinated,” Ang said.
Recent studies show that people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 continue to have strong protection compared to those who are not, she said.
“For the convenience of our residents, we have extended our vaccination operations at the SMX Convention Center (SM City) and Ayala Malls Capitol Central from Oct. 11 to 17,” a EOC-TF statement said.
“Both mall-based vaccination centers will no longer have days off this week. We have to vaccinate every qualified Bacolodnon who is willing to get vaccinated,” it added.
The city government, through the EOC-TF and the CoVaC, is encouraging Bacolod residents to get vaccinated, with the goal of achieving herd immunity.*