CEBU, Philippines — Cebu Province plans to offer a single shot vaccine to unvaccinated foreign travelers arriving at the Mactan Cebu International Airport as the country reopens for leisure purposes beginning February 10.
Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, spokesperson of the Visayas Vaccination Operations Center (VVOC), said offering the vaccine was suggested during a meeting with Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and the consuls general of Japan, China, and South Korea, the top markets for tourism in Cebu. Also present in the meeting were officials of the Department of Tourism-7, DOH-7, and representatives of the Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority, GMR Cebu Airport Corp, airline companies, and tour operators.
Based on initial discussion, Cebu may offer the Janssen brand. Those who will avail of the vaccine at the airport will still need to undergo the mandatory quarantine required for unvaccinated and partially vaccinated individuals.
A vacinee is considered fully vaccinated even on a single dose vaccine only after two weeks after vaccination.
Garcia said Cebu has to “map out our own protocols” for arriving foreign tourists because the island is different from other areas in the country.
It has its own international airport and most of the local government units in Cebu Province are dependent on tourism as economic driver and are dependent on the foreign market.
“Mag-swab upon arrival ta then quarantine, unya tagaa'g choice, you want single jab? Mo-vaccinate ta, naay choice, of course, pero we will make available ang single jab vaccine lang,” Garcia told reporters.
Pediatric population
In another development, Loreche looks forward to the rollout of the vaccination for children between five to 11 years old in Cebu island following the successful pilot implementation in Metro Manila.
“I look forward to a successful rollout for 5 to 11 in the region and most especially here in One Cebu island. Hopefully, ang mga parents ay magbibigay ng kanilang full support sa ating pagbabakuna… Wag nating pabayaan ang ating mga kabataan… ibigay natin kung ano’ng nararapat sa kanila,” Loreche said.
Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, for his part, said the city will check on the vaccination venue being offered by Cebu Doctor’s University Hospital.
Rama has said he is against vaccinating minors at hospitals as doing so would be too risky especially with the threat of the Omicron variant but he might agree to it if a separate venue outside the hospital would be provided.
“If I can see nga it can be done, within the hospital but not inside the hospital, and the amenities are all present, then why not?” Rama said.
Doctors have said that the vaccination is best done at hospitals where there will be doctors who specialize in kids who can check on the vaccinees, especially those with comorbidities.
Aside from CDUH, the Cebu City Sports Center has also been identified as a vaccination site. It is located right across the Saint Vincent Hospital.
Transport sector
Meanwhile, the Department of Transportation, its agencies, and the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas are calling on registered public utility vehicle operators, drivers, and their families to get vaccinated or boosted as they opened the five-day vaccination drive for the transport sector at the LTO-7 Malasakit Center on N. Bacalso Avenue in Cebu City on Monday.
Atty. Mark Steven Pastor, DOTr Undersecretary for Road Transport and Infrastructure, said the vaccination drive is part of government’s continuing efforts to help ensure the health and safety of everyone on the road.
In his video message, Pastor stressed the need for everyone to get involved in the fight against COVID-19. The first two days of the vaccination drive, February 7 and 8, 2022 will be exclusive for registered operators, drivers and their families. It will be open to the public from February 9 to 11, 2022.
First, second, and booster doses of Sinovac and AstraZeneca will be available during the vaccination drive, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Cebu City Health Department has assured a 1000-vaccinee daily capacity for the campaign. Pastor said of DOTr and other partner agencies: “Without their help and cooperation, the government will not be successful in this fight. Indeed, great things are achieved when we join hands and work together,” Pastor further said.
LTO-7 Director Victor Caindec who delivered the welcome address said the Malasakit Lounge is inspired by OPAV’s Malasakit Center.
The country’s first Malasakit Center located at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center was initiated by the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas.
“Today at the vaccination drive of the DOTR, we are proud and happy to participate in this important activity,” Caindec said.
Eduardo Montealto, Jr., regional director of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)-7 also reiterated the importance of vaccination for the safety and security of all.
Montealto urged stakeholders to be vaccinated fully and to get booster shots. The vaccination drive is initiated by DOTr, OPAV, LTO-7, and LTFRB-7 in partnership with the Visayas Vaccination Operations Center (VVOC), Department of Health-7, Cebu City Health Department, and the Department of Information and Communications Technology-7. -- Caecent No-ot Magsumbol and Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon JMO (FREEMAN)