It’s all systems go for the Nov. 29 to Dec. 1 National Vaccination Days with Bacolod City set to open up 40 vaccination sites in schools, barangays and malls for the three-day event as part of the government’s campaign to fast-track herd immunity.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia enjoined Bacolodnons to take part in the program and called on the unvaccinated to get inoculated from Monday to Wednesday despite the declining COVID-19 cases in the city, a press release from the Bacolod Public Information Office said.
Executive Director Em Legaspi-Ang of the Emergency Operations Center-Task Force said the City Health Office under its officer-in-charge, Dr. Edwin Miraflor, Jr., has already conducted an orientation for 127 volunteers in the runup to the event that starts as early as 8 a.m. Monday.
The local government vaccination teams are composed of health screeners, vaccinators, post-vaccination monitors, registration personnel, encoders, data consolidators or talliers, and health educators, Ang said.
Ang, also the concurrent coordinator of the COVID-19 Vaccination Council, said that over a hundred volunteers have signed up to lend a hand during the Bacolod leg of the national vaccination drive.
“We thank the volunteers for stepping up and agreeing to serve in the nationwide drive to ramp up COVID vaccination,” Ang said.
Miraflor said the target given to Bacolod by the Department of Health is to administer jabs for 66,000.
But Ang pointed out the target may be too high but relayed to the DOH that Bacolod will exert its “best effort” to inoculate as many in three days.
The LGU recently posted its highest inoculation at 13,403 to eclipse its previous record of 12,000 vaccinees in a single day, Dr. Chris Sorongon, EOC-TF deputy for medical, data analysis and management, said.
“We are targeting 22,000 residents to flock to our 40 vaccination sites each day of our Bayanihan Bakunahan,” Miraflor earlier said.
As part of the preparation, the EOC-TF vaccination team met with SM City Bacolod Mall Manager George Anthony Jardiolin late last week.
The vaccination for first and second doses at the 3rd Floor, North Wing will be for the Pediatric population (12-17), while those for the general public will be at the SM Cinema.
Booster shots will be at the Traveller’s Lounge, Groundfloor, South Wing.
To be vaccinated are teeners 12 to 17 ( Pediatric) and 18 years old and above (adults) who have not yet received their first dose, Miraflor said, adding that those scheduled to get their second doses are also qualified.
Qualified for the booster shots are residents under the A1, A2 and A3 priority groups.
Vaccinees, who are 12 to 17 years old, must bring either their birth or baptismal certificate and ID, parent’s or guardian’s valid ID and authoritization letter signed by parents.
Adult-vaccinees must bring any government- issued ID.
Pregnant women who are in their second or third tri-mester are required to present a valid ID, and medical certificate from their doctor allowing them to get vaccinated.
Those who want to get booster jabs may bring their valid ID and vaccination cards.
The “Bayanihan Bakunahan” starts simultaneously at 8 a.m. for schools and barangay-based vaccination sites.
Mall-based vaccination centers open at 10 a.m. onwards.
Pediatric and adult vaccinees availing of either 1st or 2nd doses will be attended to in all venues.
Booster shots will only be administered at SM City and Ayala Malls Capitol Central.*