NEGROS Occidental Health Officer Dr. Ernell Tumimbang urged the health officers and medical staff of all cities and municipalities in the province to ensure that their vaccine cold storage facilities are ready to accept delivery, even at night or in the unholy hours before dawn.
“Please prepare your cold storage facilities, especially for LGUs (local government units) far from Bacolod. As soon as possible, we will deliver the vaccines to you. However, the delivery will definitely not be during times when the sun is very hot, but only during times when the temperature is cool,” Tumimbang said during the “Bakuna Kasangga ng Bida” vaccine simulation exercise conducted recently at Cansilayan National High School in Murcia.
Murcia Mayor Victor Gerardo M. Rojas thanked the provincial government for selecting Murcia as the venue for the vaccine simulation exercise because Murcia’s hosting of the activity further bolsters the town’s strategic significance as the crossroads for goods and services coming to and from northern, southern and central Negros Occidental.
“For one year now, we in Murcia exerted all efforts to combat the virus. With the availability of the vaccine, we can now march forward with a strong and resilient mind that we can combat the virus through vaccination,” Rojas said.
“We should fast-track data gathering for vaccine recipients. If we cannot prepare the data as early as possible, this will hamper the schedule and pace of our vaccination. Everyone down to the barangay level should fast-track the data gathering,” the mayor added.
Earlier this month, several thousand Sinovac vaccines arrived in the province. Medical frontliners at the provincial hospital in Silay City and the district hospitals in Cadiz City, Kabankalan City and Valladolid were prioritized as the first recipients of the vaccines.
“Let us wait, because our turn will come. So please prepare to accept the vaccine deliveries during unholy hours, and make sure that your cold storage facilities are ready for the vaccine,” Tumimbang reminded the health officers.
He explained that, once the vaccines are delivered to the LGUs, and their cold storage facilities are not ready, it is difficult to bring the vaccines back to Bacolod, particularly for LGUs far from the provincial capital, because the vaccines might lose their potency.
He further recommended to LGUs to procure biological refrigerators instead of the ordinary commercial ones because biological refs have special temperature control equipment specifically designed for vaccines, which need stable required temperature levels to preserve their shelf life and potency.
“Please encourage your clients in your LGUs to avail of the vaccine. Make them understand, and convince them to undergo vaccination. This is already the opportune time to open the economy of our province, after majority of us have already been vaccinated,” the provincial health officer said.
Murcia Vice Mayor Johnny Reosura and the town councilors witnessed the event. Also present were 3rd District Provincial Board Member Manuel Frederick “Manman” Ko, ABC provincial president Board Member Juvy Pepello and 303rd Brigade Philippine Army commander Colonel Michael Samson.
Provincial Department of Health head Dr. Elizabeth Altamira, assistant provincial health officer Dr. Jessica Fama and Hinoba-an Health Officer Dr. Rowena Abella, who is the provincial president of the Association of Municipal and City Health Officers of the Philippines, headed the team of medical practitioners, composed of doctors and nurses from all LGUS in the province, who observed the proceedings. (PR)