THE City Government of Bacolod will use the public school classrooms or gymnasiums as vaccination centers once the vaccines against coronavirus disease (Covid-19) are available.
Councilor Renecito Novero, member of Bacolod Covid-19 vaccination (Covac) Council, said Tuesday, January 5, that they held a meeting on Monday with the other members of Covac and discussed their preparations for the vaccination program against Covid-19.
He said there shall be 20 clustered vaccination centers in the city and this can increase depending on the availability of attending health personnel and other exigencies.
He said the Department of Education (DepEd) is also willing to utilize their school classrooms or gymnasium as vaccination centers.
The vaccination centers will be identified by the sub-team of Engineer Loben Ceballos, Councilor Lady Gles Pallen and Gladys Sales, officer-in-charge Assistant Schools Division Superintendent, within this week.
Novero said Budget Officer Imelda Williams also informed them that Special Education Fund (SEF) can be utilized to purchase vaccines for public school students as well as teaching and non-teaching personnel of DepEd.
"We also discussed the possible need of storage facilities and ready generators in each vaccination center in case of brownout and the possible funding for each center and holding areas to provide safe, convenient and expeditious administration of vaccines," he said.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia earlier issued Executive Order 83, creating the Covac Council to plan, supervise, and implement programs and activities related to the City Covid-19 Vaccination roadmap, with the view of providing citizens access and delivery of this disease preventive measure at the soonest possible time with the "widest and most realistic coverage possible.
It shall also be tasked with the function of closely coordinating and integrating with the National Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Disease, Department of Health, Department of Budget and Management, the major Leagues of Local Government officials, and other government and non-government instrumentalities to ensure that health and safety standards on the City Vaccination Program are observed at its highest standards.
Novero said they will hold another meeting next week to discuss the report and recommendation of the sub-team.