In-school vaccination resumes in Cebu City

CEBU, Philippines —  The Cebu City government is set to resume today, May 17, 2022, its in-school vaccination in the city.

City Health Department (CHD) head Jeffrey Ibones said such vaccination will continue after being suspended for a few days because of the May 9, 2022 elections.

“Few days before election, naundang ta og bakuna sa mga skwelahan tungod kay gi-prepare man sa atong mga maestra sa DepEd (Department of Education) ang atong mga skwelahan,” said Ibones.

Ibones said per the schedule provided to them by DepEd, the vaccination will be until June 1.

During the vaccination period, more than 20 schools will participate in the activity. These schools are in barangays Mabini, Agsungot, Sirao, Bacayan, Bonbon, Babag, Sibugay, Pamutan, among others.

Ibones said the conduct of the in-school vaccination is through the joint efforts of the city government and DepEd to prepare the students for their limited face-to-face classes.

Meanwhile, Ibones said that they already have the list of the five top-performing barangays in the city’s COVID vaccination campaign who are set to be recognized by the city government on June 12, Independence Day. This is in partnership with the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI).

He, however, did not divulge yet the names of the barangays.

“Mag-wait ta kay it needs Mayor's signature man gud, but we have already identified the five barangays,” said Ibones.

“Ang nahitabo, from the start na nagbakuna ta (March 2021) until December 15 man tingali to, nakaabot tag 70 percent. Mao nang naa ta’y mga barangay nga awardan nato nga nakaabot og 70 percent nga total sa population nila nga nabakunahan from March 2021 to December 2021,” said Ibones.

Aside from that, the city government and RAFI will also hold a raffle where fully vaccinated city residents can have a chance to win.

Ibones said this initiative will help motivate barangays and city residents to avail of the COVID-19 vaccine.

“Dinhi nato makita ang atoang motivation sa atong mga barangay ug sa atong mga individual nga magpabakuna. Dako ning tabang kay maka-motivate ta nila nga magpabakuna gyud kay sa nakita nato, labi na karong mga panahona, ni-low sad ang atong vaccination labi na niluag na ang atoang (city) but mahappy ta because Alert Level 1 pa man gani gihapon ta until karon,” said Ibones.

To recall, the city government also utilized such method through the “PabakunaTa Bonanza Raffle,” which awarded a total of P4.85 million in prizes, including a house and lot and a new car. — JMD (FREEMAN)