Cebu City to open 5th vaccination site

CEBU, Philippines —  The Cebu City government has set up another COVID-19 vaccination center located at the University of Cebu Senior High School Department along J. Alcantara Street in Brgy. Sambag I.

This is the fifth vaccination site in the city. The other four are Robinsons Galleria, SM Seaside, University of Cebu-Banilad campus, and SM City Cebu.

However, the new vaccination site and the one at SM City are not yet operational.

Councilor David Tumulak, the coordinator for the vaccination sites, said the city is still awaiting for the go signal from the Department of Health (DOH) and the City Health Department (CHD).

“The site is ready. But we are waiting for DOH and CHD’s signal to officially cater vaccinees,” he said.

The fifth vaccination center, he said, will cater residents of Barangays Sambag 1 and 2, Calamba, Labangon, Pasil, and Kalubihan.

More jab sites

Moreover, he said the city government along with the private sectors and government agencies is scouting more vaccination sites for the convenience of the public.

“We are trying our best to look for more vaccination centers,” he said.

He said the number of individuals who registered for vaccination is among the considerations in identifying an additional site.

“Atong gitan-aw og pila ka buok nagparehistro anang lugara. Kini siya maoy strategic area nga atong nakita... Silbi ang atong vaccination center, maoy moduol ngadto sa atong mga tawo nga dili sila lisdan sa pag-adto and at the same time, accessible to transportation,” said Tumulak.

Also, the area should be near the hospitals, he added.

Tumulak said the city is planning to open 10 to 15 vaccination centers to cater more vaccinees.

“Honestly speaking, we need some support from other medical institution, volunteers to assist us in this inoculation rollout. We need the support from other sectors,” he said.

More Vaccines

In another development, City Health officer-in-charge Jeffrey Ibones disclosed that additional 27,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine and 5,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine arrived in the city yesterday.

“Kung daghan ang atong bakuna, possible nga maka-open gyud ta og another site, labi na karon we have 27, 000,” said Ibones.

Ibones said one of their concerns is the manpower if another site will be opened. This is why he stressed there is a need for coordination with the private sector.

“We cannot be worried because it’s a template already na, meaning if naa na ang mga tawo di na ta maglisod og open. Kung unsay gibuhat nato sa ubang sites, igo ra nato ibutang lang nato. Operational na dayon,” he said.

Ibones said their plan is to resume the vaccination rollout in the city using the AstraZeneca vaccines on Monday, May 17.

For the Pfizer rollout, he said, they are yet to receive the notice to start the inoculation.

He said they are still also finalizing the vaccination process since Pfizer vaccine cannot be administered in the malls. — KQD (FREEMAN)