‘Vax to the Max’ reels off to jab 6K folk/day

By Jason B. Neola

Having established at least 15 vaccination sites that will operate simultaneously for the entire month of February, the city government of Naga is optimistic to realize its target to vaccinate 120,000 individuals as part of its effort to zero in on the remaining 3 percent of the target population. Naga has more than 210,000 total population.

The ‘Naga Vax to the Max,’ which is being undertaken since Monday, Jan. 31, with active participation from the barangay officials and volunteers, aims to inoculate 6,000 individuals every day or 30,000 per week.

Non-Naga residents who are working in various offices, stores, and commercial establishments in the city are encouraged to get a vax jab in any of the vaccination sites near their workplaces.

The vax drive is being pursued in collaboration also with the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation, which will actively join in organizing and conducting the pediatric vaccination next week. The child vax will accommodate 5 to 17 years old Nagueño children who are to be injected with Pfizer vaccines.

VAX TO THE MAX DRIVE First day of the “Naga Vax to the Max” in Barangay Concepcion Pequeña, Naga City. The city’s vaccination drive achieved a total number of 4,604 individuals who were inoculated during the first and second days of the vax drive in the city. JBN/REY BAYLON/CEPPIO

As part of ensuring the success of the “Naga Vax to the Max,” barangay officials and volunteers have been going around their respective communities to encourage more unvaxxed individuals to go to vaccination sites that can be located in their barangays.

Ex-officio Councilor Antonio Beltran, Liga ng mga Barangay president and punong barangay of Bagumbayan Norte, said Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) are telling the communities about the advantage of having a vax jab.

“They [BHWs] were explaining to the residents, especially to those who remain unvaccinated that it was because of the vaccines that made the number of persons died due to Covid-19 to decrease. Sa ngonian, nagbaba nin 90 porsyento an death rate kan Covid-19 kumpara sa 70% kan Setyembre 2021,” Beltran said.

Allen Reondanga, chief of City Events, Protocol, and Public Information Office (CEPPIO), said a series of trainings are now being undertaken for those who will get involved in the conduct of vaccination rollout which is set to begin on the third week of February.

He said vax sites will only accommodate children on condition that they are with their parents or guardians, a parent or guardian’s consent, birth certificate or the child’s valid ID.