KALIBO, Aklan – The first batch of coronavirus vaccines from British manufacturer AstraZeneca may start arriving here by early March, according to municipal vaccine czar Rey Villaruel.
These initial 16,400 doses would be rolled out based on the local government unit’s (LGUs) coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination plan.
LGUs are required to prepare a master list of priority groups, human resources, volunteers and personnel for vaccination, and to conduct information campaigns for it.
The local government of Kalibo is in talks with AstraZeneca, which has been granted emergency use authorization by the Food and Drug Administration.
Frontline health workers as well as senior citizens will be the first to be inoculated. The first doses, free of charge, will be offered also for the indigent population.
Villaruel said the local government has P50 million for the vaccines.
A few weeks from now, a vaccination simulation exercise will be conducted in preparation for the rollout – from the transport of vaccines, storage, vaccine supply distribution and administration, and monitoring of vaccinated people.
Healthcare workers like doctors, nurses and other health care professionals will also receive COVID-19 vaccination training in the coming weeks.
For now, residents have to register using an online platform via www.kaliboaklan.gov.ph for profiling.
Part of the vaccination strategy is the deployment of personnel from the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology to augment the health authorities.
Kalibo mayor Emerson Lachica will also continue to coordinate with the Diocese of Kalibo and the Department of Education for the use of gymnasiums, schools and churches as vaccination centers.
As of Feb. 18, Kalibo had 16 active COVID-19 cases and 16 deaths, according to the Aklan Epidemiological and Surveillance Unit./PN
