Barangay exec tells folk not to be vax choosy

By Paulo DS. Papa

The president of the Liga ng mga Barangay in Naga City called on residents not to be choosy in the brand of vaccines to speed up the vaccination program of the government.

Bagumbayan Norte barangay chief Antonio Beltran, president of the Naga City Liga ng mga Barangay and ex-officio member of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, made the appeal in view of numerous reactions after the two-day NagaVax Express sponsored by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Naga City government.

The NagaVax Express vaccinated persons belonging in priority groups such as: A1.6, medical students in clerkship or training endorsed by their institutions; A1.8, those who will fly abroad within four months for overseas employment; A2, consisting senior citizens living and registered in the city; and A3 persons with comorbidities.

Beltran lamented that because people knew that the single dose Janssen vaccine will be used during the two-day vaccination activity, numerous walk-in individuals trooped to the vaccination sites and were inoculated because those who were scheduled on the first day, July 23 did not show up. Those who walked in were vaccinated because the vials were already removed from the cold storage and if not used, will be spoiled due to heat exposure.

This resulted in insufficient supply as those scheduled on the first day came to the vaccination sites on the second day.

The NagaVax Express has five vaccination sites, namely: JMR Coliseum; Holy Rosary Major Seminary; UNC Sports Palace; Camarines Sur National High School; and Pacol Urban Poor Covered Court.

The two-day vaccination campaign inoculated a total of 6,517 individuals, 3,520 on the July 23 and 3,195 on July 24.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Vice President (OVP) is willing to help local government units (LGUs) in their vaccination program by providing them volunteer medical personnel who will conduct the actual inoculation of residents.

Vice President Leni Robredo said the OVP does not have its own vaccine supply but it is willing to provide LGUs volunteer doctors, nurses, and medical personnel including systems and strategies in the conduct of vaccination activities.

Robredo clarified to Bicol Mail that the OVP is not the one that provides the vaccines.