Labella agrees with Gwen: Vaccine program not a race

CEBU, Philippines —  Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella shares the sentiment of Governor Gwendolyn Garcia that vaccination for COVID-19 is not a race and a vaccination program needs to be planned out well.

“I share the thoughts of Governor Gwen Garcia. This is not a race,” Labella said during a virtual press conference Wednesday.

Labella was reacting to criticism that the city has been slow in its vaccination program while other local government units have already set up storage facilities and vaccination centers, and have already made purchase agreements.

“We have already negotiated with Astrazenica and Moderna and we are ready to purchase for our constituents who will not be included in the national vaccination program. Cebu City is ready,” Labella said with a thumb’s up sign.

Labella who is currently working from home following a medical leave, said he is in constant communication with vaccine czar, Secretary Carlito Galvez.

“He even asked me for our priority list in anticipation of a vaccine roll out and we are glad that we are considered as one of the priority areas,” Labella said.

The mayor lauded the efforts of the city’s vaccine board that include, among others, exploring storage facilities and finalizing a vaccination plan. The plan covers details on vaccination centers, and priority recipients and sectors.

“And these are the things that Sec. Galvez wants me to do, yet there are people who just want to criticize,” Labella said.

He said everything has to be prepared well “because haste makes waste”.

Earlier, Cebu City Health Department Assistant OIC, Dr. Michelle Linsalata, said the vaccine board has already identified the priority groups.

“By the time the vaccine will come, we already know pila kabuok ni sila nga kinahanglan gyud bakunahan, pila ka seniors nga kinahanglan nabakunahan and, at the same time, we will already know kung unsay ilang medical profile para ang atong pag-roll out sa vaccine, we will be doing this in the safest way possible nga ma-avoid nato ang mga adverse reactions, kanang mga reported deaths nga nahitabo,” Linsalata said.

The board is also preparing for an education campaign about the vaccine to convince residents to get inoculated. — JMO (FREEMAN)