AN estimated 7,000 workers in the tourism sector in Davao City will be receiving their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine beginning Wednesday, June 30.
City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO) Head Generose Tecson told SunStar Davao in a phone interview on Saturday, June 26, that the vaccine rollout will be at the Garden Pavilion of the Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao in Lanang for three days.
Tecson said the number was based on the pre-registration link sent by the City Health Office for the tourism sector, through the Davao Tourism Association (Data).
Based on the initial tourism data, tourism workers composed of airport workers, restaurants, hotels, event organizers, tourist transport, tour agencies, tour guides, and other tourism-accredited establishments will be inoculated with Sinovac.
A total of 500 vaccinees will be catered on the first day, she said.
According to the National Vaccine Deployment for Covid-19 of the Department of Health (DOH), tourism workers fall under Priority A4 Group or the frontline personnel in essential sectors.
Tecson also said the vaccine rollout for the tourism sector in the city is a "way forward" for future international flights to Davao City.
"It's good na ma-vaccinate na 'yung tourism workers natin para (our tourism workers will now be vaccinated as it is) for their own protection. It’s in preparation for the new normal. It would be of great help to the industry,” she said.
She, however, clarified that it will not be mandatory, but they encouraged them to have themselves vaccinated.
Minimum health protocols at the vaccine rollout venue will be in place, Tecson said.
Data will lead in the vaccine rollout in Waterfront.
Data President Cherry Faye Al-ag said in a virtual presser that there will be strictly no walk-ins as they would be required to pre-register and get a schedule of their vaccination at the site through the official company representatives.
Al-ag said the vaccine rollout is "a powerful step in restarting the reopening of the different businesses" in the city.
Admittedly, she said many, including tourism workers, are still undecided in getting the vaccine.
But she emphasized the benefits they would get, especially that they are the frontline workers who will be dealing with many people, both local and foreign tourists.
Tecson, meanwhile, said she is confident that the city will gradually recover from the economic losses incurred by the tourism sector when the pandemic hit the entire world in March 2020.
According to her, revenues from the tourism sector in the city went down from an estimated P35 billion in 2019 to an estimated P8 billion as of present. (RGL)