Update on city’s vaccination roll-out, bared
BAGUIO CITY – (12 March 2021) – So far, so good.
Out of the 2,820 Sinovac anti-coronavirus 2019 (Covid-19) vaccine doses received by the city as of March 7, this year, 1,146 of the Summer Capital’s eligible population have been vaccinated in six local hospitals chosen as vaccination sites.
Thus, reported City health officer Dr. Rowena Galpo on the city’s vaccination roll-out during the regular management committee meeting of city officials, March 8, led by Mayor Benjamin Magalong at Baguio Convention Center.
The Cordillera Region received a total of 7,800 Sinovac vaccines that was distributed among its local government units. More life-saving vaccines from several other international pharmaceutical companies are expected in the coming weeks, she said.
With 1,200 doses received, Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center started March 5 and vaccinated 973 out of 1,831 of its eligible individuals; Baguio Medical Center commenced March 6 with 50 doses inoculating 30 out of 47; while Saint Louis University Hospital of the Sacred Heart conducted its vaccination on March 8 and had 600 doses with 73 jabbed out of 652.
Getting 40 doses, the Philippine Military Academy Station Hospital started March 8 inoculating 20 out of 22 of its eligible individuals; Notre Dame de Chartres Hospital had 630 doses with an eligible population of 699; while Pines City Doctors Hospital had 300 with 416 eligible population.
Since both Notre Dame (March 11) and Pines City (March 9) where scheduled to conduct their vaccinations after her March 8 report, Galpo was unable to give the numbers inoculated by both hospitals.
Vaccinations at SLU and PMA were also ongoing while she was giving her update during the management committee meeting.
Other than the hospitals, the city’s field vaccination sites are the University of Baguio and SLU gymnasiums; Baguio City National High School; and St. Louis Center (Campo Filipino).
Galpo revealed that around 30 individuals experienced only minor adverse effects like slight fever, muscle pain and rashes after being vaccinated.
“Let me say once again that the benefits of being vaccinated far outweighs its side effects. It is much safer to be vaccinated against covid-19 than to be infected by the deadly virus,” she stressed.
Earlier, the city government crafted its vaccine deployment and immunization action plan aimed at the effective and efficient deployment of covid-19 vaccines and seamless implementation of the vaccination program.
With an estimated population of 378,532 Galpo said Baguio’s eligible population for vaccination, those 18 years old and above, is around 238,494 or 63 percent.
She pointed out that with a target herd immunity of 80 percent of the eligible population, this would tally to 190,796. With each patient needing two doses, the number of vaccines needed amounts to 381,592.
Galpo said priority groups identified for vaccination include frontline health workers, indigent senior citizens, remaining senior citizens, remaining indigent population, uniformed personnel, teachers and social workers, other government workers, other essential workers, socio-demographic groups, overseas Filipino workers, other remaining workforce, and rest of Filipino nation. – Gaby B. Keith
