Vaccination simulations conducted
BAGUIO CITY – (19 February 2021) – Practice makes perfect.
The city government is leaving no stones unturned as it awaits the arrival of life-saving coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines with the conduct of simulation activities aimed at fixing any kinks that may arise to achieve an efficient inoculation process.
Spearheaded by the City Health Services Office (CHSO) under Dr. Rowena Galpo, the simulation activities are part of the city’s vaccine deployment and immunization action plan.
Galpo said simulations were conducted February 15 at the University of Baguio gymnasium; SLU Hospital of the Sacred Heart, February 18; and at a barangay health center on February 19.
Local government and health officials, medical doctors, representatives from the Covid vaccination (Covax) task force, emergency response groups and other private sector partners witnessed the simulations as evaluators and observers.
She said functionality of the step-by-step process were put to the test: Waiting area, step 1; Registration, step 2; Screening, step 3; Counseling, step 4; Vaccination, step 5; and Observation for step 6.
The process of transporting vaccines from the freezers to the city’s vaccination sites are part of the simulation activity, she added.
“We hope that thru these simulations, we can observe what goes well and what needs more improvement,” Galpo said.
Initial adjustments to be made, she said, include installation of additional signages; need for more teams; and more simulations.
Galpo disclosed that actual electric registration could not be tested as of the meantime since the system is not yet in place.
With the Summer Capital targeting to vaccinate 70 percent of its population, or around 190,000 residents, Galpo said the city has two freezers capable of storing vaccines that require temperatures as low as minus 70 to minus 80 degrees Celsius.
She assured that the city has prepared for emergencies like a vaccination plan when vaccines are damaged or spoiled; backup generator sets in case of power interruptions; and a standby list of recipients when some fail to show up on their appointed inoculation schedule. -Gaby B. Keith
