NO JAB, NO JOB?; Treñas eyes mandatory vaccination of workers

ILOILO City – Employees of business establishments in this city may be required to get vaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Those who wouldn’t may not be allowed to work, said Mayor Jerry Treñas.

“Manigurado gid kita. It would be useless if we do not make [COVID-19 vaccination] a requirement,” the mayor pointed out.

Treñas revealed over the weekend his plan to issue a directive that would make compulsory – and free – the vaccination of workers here.

“I believe this pandemic won’t end unless everyone is vaccinated,” Treñas told Panay News yesterday.

While no final decision has been made yet, such is now being studied by the City Legal Office, according to the mayor.

Treñas floated the mandatory inoculation of workers in an interview over DFYM Bombo Radyo Iloilo. He, however, did not provide figures on the total number of workers in the metro that would be covered.

In early January, the city government entered into a tripartite agreement with AstraZeneca and the national government for the advance procurement of 600,000 vials of AZD1222 Vaccine.

The target number of persons for vaccination is 60 percent of the city’s total population of about 474,250.

According to Treñas, non-resident workers may also be required to get vaccinated.

“Ang mga tawo nga indi taga–syudad pero naga-obra diri kinahanglan bakunahan ta para malab-ot ang herd immunity,” Treñas said.

ZD1222 Vaccine is made from a weakened version of a common cold virus (known as an adenovirus) from chimpanzees. It has been modified to look more like coronavirus – although it can’t cause illness.

When the vaccine is injected into a patient, it prompts the immune system to start making antibodies and primes it to attack coronavirus infection.

ADVANCE PAYMENT

Next week, the city government is expected to make an advance payment for the 600,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines it ordered.

Treñas announced Friday evening he signed a voucher following President Rodrigo Duterte’s signing of Memorandum Order 51 allowing local governments to make vaccine purchases.

 “Hopefully, with the advance payment by next week, the vaccines will be available to the Ilonggos by July of this year,” the mayor said.

Memorandum Order 51 allowed local government units to make advance payments exceeding 15 percent of the total contract amount for the procurement of the vaccines.

In preparation for the inoculation, the city government conducted a vaccination dry run on Jan. 28. Another exercise is slated on March 3.

The simulation includes the transport of vaccines from the storage facility up to the conduct of vaccination.

The city will also go massive in its information dissemination to raise public awareness on the benefits of COVID-19 vaccines.

“We are readying vaccines that are safe, free, and effective. The only way to get protected from the virus and stops its spread is through vaccination. We are meeting every sector to address every concern,” Treñas said.

He also met with Jaro Archbishop Jose Romeo Lazo to seek the church’s support to the local government’s vaccination campaign./PN