In Central Visayas COVID-19 vaccine rollout: Health officials get jab

CEBU, Philippines —  To quell doubts and enhance public confidence in vaccines, health and hospital officials were the first to receive Sinovac’s Coronavax vaccine yesterday in Cebu City, marking the start of COVID-19 vaccination in Central Visayas.

Dr. Gerardo Aquino Jr., chief of Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, was the region’s first recipient of the vaccine.

Earlier in the day yesterday, Mar. 4, Aquino said a total of 1,245 VSMMC health workers consented to being inoculated with the Sinovac vaccine. The number rose from Mar. 2’s figure of 768.

Aquino said he expects this number to further increase as the vaccination will run for six to seven days.

VSMMC received 7,200 doses of Sinovac-made vaccines but some of its 2,900 health workers are hesitant over the brand.

If not all of the vaccines allocated for VSMMC would be used, the unused doses would be given to health workers of DOH-run hospitals like the Saint Anthony Mother and Child Hospital (SAMCH) and the Eversley Childs Sanitarium General Hospital (ECSGH), which already submitted their substitution lists.

‘Feeling Great’

DOH-7 spokesperson Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, who also received the jab yesterday, said around 50 to 70 health workers were vaccinated as of yesterday.

Asked how she felt after the vaccination, Loreche responded: “Feeling great.”

“The usual thing that you feel when you have your vaccine like when I had my flu shot, my pneumococcal shot. There is a little pain on the side of the injection, but other than that, I feel well, I feel okay and elated,” she added.

Other officials who received the vaccine were retired General Mel Feliciano, IATF-MEID Visayas deputy chief implementer; Dr. Juanito Tiu of SAMCH; and Dr. Pythagoras Zerna of ECSGH.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, who was in Cebu for the vaccination rollout ceremony, said that as one of the priority areas for COVID-19 vaccinations, Cebu can expect to receive a share of the 487,200 AstraZeneca vaccines that were expected to arrive in the country last night.

“As the president said, the solution to the pandemic is the vaccine...and the solution to the pandemic is here. The vaccine is the light at the end of the tunnel that we are waiting,” Roque said.

DOH undersecretary Gerardo Bayuga assured that all vaccines used were safe as he reiterated the agency’s promise “to guard everybody’s health and well-being.”

“As with all the vaccines given by the DOH, know that the department will never knowingly put anyone in harm’s way. It is our utmost duty to guard your health and well-being and we will continue (to do) that duty to the best that we can. Now is the time to fight back,” Bayuga said.

Interior undersecretary Majorie Jalosjos described the vaccines as “a glimmer of hope.”

“Let us keep our faith that this pandemic will soon come to an end. The COVID vaccine rollout, for one, gives us a glimmer of hope,” she said.

Feliciano, for his part, saw his being inoculated as a chance to be part of the “noble cause” to make the public safe.

“Initially, the vaccine that was announced to arrive was AstraZeneca, but because of some reason, Sinovac came first. Again, (no matter) what vaccine will arrive, for me, personally, I will volunteer to be the first one to be vaccinated…because I see it as an opportunity for us to be part of the noble cause of the government to make everyone safe and to open up the economy,” said Feliciano.

Also present at the ceremonial rollout yesterday were Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama, Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard Chan and Cebu Fourth District Board Member Kerrie Shimura, who all expressed commitment to support the national government’s vaccination program against COVID-19.

“The message is clear here: We are all part of the problem, and we are all part of the solution,” said Cortes.

Meanwhile, some 8,440 doses of Sinovac vaccines will be delivered tomorrow, Mar. 6, to Governor Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital in Tagbilaran City and 1,200 doses more to Silliman University Medical Center Foundation Inc. in Dumaguete City.

The vaccines are set to arrive at Mactan-Cebu International Airport from Manila at 7:40 a.m. today. From there, they will be transported to VSMMC’s cold room for sorting before being delivered to the two identified hospitals.

This development is seen to jumpstart the mass inoculation in the provinces of Bohol and Negros Oriental.

Cebu City preps up

In Cebu City, the local government has intensified preparations for the mass vaccination, particularly in looking for areas qualified as vaccination sites.

Councilor David Tumulak, who is among those charged for searching for vaccination sites, said they have already checked on some locations where the COVID-19 vaccination could be conducted.

Among the areas being eyed is the Our Lady of Lourdes Parish-Don Bosco Youth Center in Barangay Punta Princesa, which Tumulak inspected yesterday.

Some malls were already inspected.

According to Tumulak, inspections are important to ensure enough space for sections for registration, verification, screening, vaccination, and monitoring.

“So nihaom gyud ang kining mga lugar nga atong mga gipangbisita pero duna sa'y ubang mga areas nga dili gyud suitable, sama pananglitan sa mga sports complex, gymnasium sa atong mga kabarangayan,” said Tumulak.

“Di man pwede gud kay naa man gu'y thickly-populated area sa lugar. Mao nang gilikayan nato nga magpunsisok unya hinuon ba,” he added.

Tumulak said it is important to observe social distancing at the vaccination site, adding that the area should be clean, secured, well-ventilated and equipped with necessary facilities such as comfort rooms.

He said big universities in the city are also being considered as vaccination sites, although these are still subject for inspection.

“I-pangcluster ra ni siya kay duna man ta’y himoon nga pre-registration para ang mga tawo makahibawo sila sa ilang schedule, kanus-a sila mabakunahan, ug unsang orasa,” he said.

Tumulak said that after the health care workers, the senior citizens will be the next group to be inoculated.

“Mao nay atong giplanohan pag-ayo nga dili sad ma-hassle ang atong mga senior citizens. Importante nga mahapsay gyud nato'g maayo ang atong mga vaccination sites para sad madasig pud ang atong mga katawhan nga magpabakuna,” he said.

“Apan dili man gyud sad ni siya pinugsanay. Depende ra sad sa atong mga katawhan, as long as ang sa Dakbayan sa Sugbo mangandam na sad, magpreparar napud kalabot ini,” he added. — Caecent N. Magsumbol and Mary Ruth R. Malinao, JMD (FREEMAN)