SIQUIJOR, May 12 (PIA) -- The province of Siquijor has volunteered to be the pilot province for the COVID-19 community vaccination during the cascading of the Visayas COVID-19 Vaccination Operations Center Manual that embeds the different operations strategies and organizational structure of an effective and efficient Local Government Unit (LGU) vaccination operations.
Siquijor Vice Gov. Mei Ling Quezon-Brown said she wants Siquijor to be fully vaccinated by the the end of the year.
She urged the Provincial Vaccine Operation Center (VOC) to fast-track the masterlisting of vaccinees while the province is ready to allocate funds for the operation.
“We recognize the importance of having the vaccine as one of the effective measures to open the economy,” said Brown, noting that without the vaccines, it is difficult for the province to move forward in terms of economic recovery.
The vice governor said the province needs the vaccine and is grateful that the national government is spending time and effort to put in place the vaccine operation in the province.
“I know that the fight is not over yet. I have transitioned myself into thinking of embracing the new normal that COVID-19 is and will always be around. We have to equip ourselves with weapons, tools, and resources and the vaccine program is a very important tool in our arsenal of weapons in managing COVID-19,” she added.
As of May 5, the Provincial Health Office (PHO) has administered around 6,158 doses, out of the 8,164 COVID-19 vaccine deliveries in the province, either as first or second dose, according to the Provincial VOC.
During the consultative meeting with the members of the Provincial VOC, the PHO bared that 2,235 from the Priority Group A1 eligible population of 4,471 have been fully vaccinated as of May 5.
Of this, 2,322 got the first dose of the vaccines and 2,235 returned for the second dose or a variance of 87, who are still up for second dose.
Vaccination for A2 or senior citizens aged 60 years old and above is ongoing.
The A1 population covers frontline workers in health facilities both national and local, private and public, health professionals, and non-professionals such as students in health and allied professions courses with clinical responsibilities, nursing aides, janitors, barangay health workers, etc.
The province has listed 64,109 eligible population for COVID-19 vaccine.
To attain herd immunity, 70 percent of the eligible population or 44,876 must be vaccinated, according to the Department of Health.
Disaggregated eligible population (A1) is placed at 36,022; frontline health workers, 4462; senior citizens, 12,223; adults with co-morbidities (to be determined); uniformed personnel, 817; and remaining indigent population, 18,520.
One of the findings of the vaccination team during the initial vaccine operation is that not all Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERTs) were masterlisted while tanods and other barangay officials were vaccinated.
The vaccine operation team also found out that Barangay Health Workers, Barangay Nutrition Scholars, and BHERTs are reluctant and still dependent on their partners or relatives to have their vaccine shot while some eligible populations were deferred due to cough, colds, and previous injection of DEPO and Tetanus Toxoid.
Still, some are apprehensive and are still observing the side effects of the vaccines which attributed to the lower turnout. (rac/PIA7-Siquijor)
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
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