THE Bacolod City Emergency Operations Center-Task Force (EOC-TF) will reevaluate the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) vaccination program in various malls in the city.

Dr. Chris Sorongon, deputy for medical data and analysis of EOC-TF, said the vaccination program inside SM City Bacolod and the Ayala Malls Capitol Central were temporarily stopped on Thursday, January 20, since some of their vaccinators also tested positive for Covid-19.

“Our vaccinators were tested positive with the virus because they were administering the vaccine to different individuals. Maybe, they vaccinated those who don't show symptoms of the disease,” he said.

He added that the vaccination program inside the malls will resume on January 25, 2022.

Sorongon noted that the EOC-TF will hold a meeting Saturday, January 22, with Mayor Evelio Leonardia to reassess the situation of the vaccination program inside the malls.

He said they are now considering transferring the mega-vaccination centers to gymnasiums with high ceilings and open air like in some private schools.

“For me, we need to transfer the vaccination program to open spaces because the mall is an enclosed place that may be considered a major spreader (of the virus) venue,” Sorongon added.

Due to the nature of the Omicron variant of Sars-CoV-2, which causes Covid-19, Sorongon said it can transmit easily to areas with enclosed spaces.

“We wanted to ensure that our vaccinees, as well as our vaccinators are safe against Covid-19,” he said.

He said as of January 20, EOC-TF already registered 121-percent fully vaccinated individuals. It is equivalent to almost 480,000 Bacolondnons vaccinated against Covid-19.