RESIDENTS of Mexico, Pampanga may receive one of the best Christmas gifts this pandemic as Mayor Teddy Tumang expressed optimism that they will achieve herd immunity before the year 2021 ends.
Tumang said the vaccination drive in the municipality is in full swing with three jab sites, namely in SM City Pampanga, San Antonio Church and Barangay Pandacaqui.
"As of now, nakakapag-inject kami ng average 4,500 doses per day both for first and second dose sa aming tatlong vaccination sites" the mayor said.
He disclosed that as of last week, over 70,000 doses of vaccines of various brands were already administered in the municipality.
Of which, more than 50,000 were for the first dose and nearly 25,000 were administered for the second dose of the vaccines.
"In fairness to the National and Provincial Government, marami ang dumadating na supply ng vaccines ngayon kaya definitely maaachieve namin iyong herd immunity ngayong December (there is a lot of supply of vaccines coming now so we can definitely achieve your herd immunity this December)," he said.
Ultra-low temp freezer
Meanwhile, Tumang credited the steady supply of vaccines to the local government's ownership of two ultra-low temperature freezer which is needed for vaccine storage.
He disclosed that Mexico is the lone municipality in Pampanga to purchase the said equipment ahead of the expected arrival of vaccines this year.
"Sa buong Pampanga, except sa province, kami lang ang may ultra-low temperature freezer kaya dinadagdagan ng DOH ang allocation namin kaya mas mabilis ang vaccination namin dito," Tumang said.
(In the whole of Pampanga, except in the province, we are the only one with an ultra-low temperature freezer so the DOH is increasing our allocation so we can vaccinate faster here.)
He disclosed that the local government was able to purchase the freezers for P750,000 each and are currently placed at the Mexico Community Hospital.
Once the local government has finished vaccinating all residents, Tumang said the freezers will be used by the community hospital's blood bank.
"Talagang kailangan siya ngayon sa pagbabakuna, at kakailangan at magagamit pa rin namin sila even after doon naman sa aming blood bank,” he said.
(They are really needed now for vaccinations, and we will need and still be able to use them even after that in our blood bank.)