THE Office of Vice President (OVP) Leni Robredo's Vaccine Express will return to the City of San Fernando on October 21, 2021, to administer the second dose of economic frontliners or those under the A4 category.
On Friday, September 17, some 1,647 Fernandinos received their first jabs of Covid-19 vaccines at the LausGroup Event Centre in the City of San Fern via the OVP's vaccine express program, which according to Robredo, is a partnership and collaboration between the City Government of San Fernando and several non-government organizations, civil society groups and volunteers coming together to boost the government's vaccination rollout.
“Ang programang ito ay naisakatuparan sa pakikipagtulungan ng tanggapan namin at ng City of San Fernando LGU (local government unit) through the Office of Councilor Redentor Halili, pati na rin sa mga civil society organizations na pinangungunahan nina [Pampanga Governor Eddie “Among Ed” Panlilio] at Quiel Quiwa, at sa iba pa nating long-time Angat Buhay partners,” Robredo said.
“Kasama rin natin na nakikipagbayanihan para sa vaccine drive na ito ang mga medical and non-medical volunteers mula sa iba’t ibang organisasyon, medical institutions at universities, and local CSOs (civil society organizations),” the Vice President added.
Under the partnership, the LGU provided the Covid-19 vaccines, while the provided 162 manpower to facilitate the vaccination.
Also taking part in the Pampanga leg were medical and non-medical volunteers from the Malolos Maternity Hospital, Philippine Red Cross, Guiguinto Polymedic Hospital, Philippine General Hospital, Smile Symmetry Dental Clinic, Makati Medical Center, Asian Hospital and Medical Center, Fe Del Mundo Medical Center, Activeone Health; Manila Doctors Hospital, University of Santo Tomas Hospital, Medical Center Manila – Manila Med, Emilio G. Perez District Hospital, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, East Avenue Medical Center, Metropolitan Medical Center, Veterans Memorial Medical Center, Quezon City General Hospital, Matias H. Aznar Memorial College of Medicine, Far Eastern University – NMRF, University of Santo Tomas, San Beda University, Emilio Aguinaldo College – School of Medicine; Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila – College of Medicine, University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center – College of Medicine and the Philippine Medical Student Association – Our Lady of Fatima University.
The Vaccine Express program started in June when Robredo and the city government of Manila launched a drive-thru vaccination for tricycle and pedicab drivers. From there, the OVP is going to different LGUs to bring Vaccine Express to their localities and help them ramp up their vaccination rollout.
Meanwhile, Dr. Iris Muñoz, City of San Fernando National Immunization Program manager, said the OVP Vaccination Express drive was a needed boost to the LGU’s vaccination rollout.
“San Fernando is very thankful to the Vice President and to her camp dahil itong 162 manpower ng Vaccine Express ay sobrang laking tulong sa atin since nagkukulang tayo ngayon sa medical staff kasi nga yung iba tinatamaan ng virus and nagku-quarantine pa. We are happy na sumakto talaga yung dating ng Vaccine Express. Mas napabilis at marami tayong nabakunahang Fernandinos dahil dito,” Muñoz said.
As of September 16, the total vaccinated individuals in the city reached 132,092, or 54.6 percent of the eligible population. Around 34.3 percent of this total were fully vaccinated. (JTD)