THE Vaccine Express of the Office of the Vice President Leni Robredo returned in the City of San Fernando to administer a second dose of Covid-19 vaccines.

Through its joint effort with the local government unit, the Vaccine Express helped the City Health Office to fully vaccinate some 1,647 Fernandinos on Friday at the LausGroup Event Centre.

The Vaccine Express first came to the capital town on September 17, 2021, providing additional vaccinators, medical doctors, nurses, and staff to aid the LGU.

“Malaking tulong po itong Vaccine Express sa atin dahil nadagdagan tayo ng manpower and mas napapabilis at maraming Fernandino ang nababakunahan natin sa isang araw. Halimbawa, itong mahigit 1,600 na nabakunahan natin ngayon, malaking population na ito kasi kung tayo lang sa LGU ang gagawa, 1,000 lang yung average na nababakunahan natin per site,” Dr. Carlos B. Mercado, CHO Officer-in-charge said.

Robredo visited the Vaccine Express to thank the medical volunteers, staff and the LGU led by City Mayor Edwin “EdSa” Santiago.

The OVP then reassured that they are always open and ready to help San Fernando and other LGUs in their vaccination rollout.

As of October 15, 2021, there were already 115,925 fully vaccinated Fernandinos. This was 47.9 percent of the eligible population. While 156, 448 or 64.62 percent received their first dose of Covid-19 vaccines.

Mercado associated this progress to the decreasing number of Covid-19 cases in the city.

“Unang nakikita naming dahilan ng pagbaba ng kaso ay itong ating vaccination. People get immunity from the vaccines. Pangalawa, yun nga madami nang na-infect, so nagkakaroon na rin ng natural immunity yung iba,” he said.

The City Health Office urged unvaccinated Fernandinos to register to the vaccination program of the City especially now that they began to prioritize the rest of the adult population or Fernandinos aged 18 years old and above.

CHO further advised individuals who have registered but until now were not called for their vaccination schedule.

“Yung mga A1 to A5 groups na nakapag-register na at hanggang ngayon ay wala pang natatanggap na schedule maaari silang mag-follow up sa kanilang mga Barangay Health Station Nurses or midwife. Yung iba kasi ang contact number na nilalagay nila sa registration unattended o cannot be reached kapag tinatawagan na ng ating mga scheduler. So para ma-verify ang kanilang registration pwede sila mag follow up. Tumawag lamang sa telemedicine o kaya magtungo sa kanilang BHS o mga main health centers natin,” Mercado explained. (PR)