ILOILO City – “We are absolutely ready now.”
This is according to Mayor Jerry Treñas and City COVID Team spokesperson Jeck Conlu, citing the successful conduct of the second coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination simulation exercise yesterday at Ateneo de Iloilo-Santa Maria Catholic School in Mandurriao district.
“We’re done with two simulation exercises for the vaccination. The one this morning (March 3) is a lot better than the first and our medical personnel will critique the same together with the Department of Health (DOH) personnel who observed this morning,” Treñas told Panay News.
But for a speedier process, a pre-registration for the QR (quick response) code and the vaccination would be imperative, according to the city mayor.
“If one is pre-registered, it take between 10 to 15 minutes only for the whole process,” said Treñas.
A total of 100 participants including the city’s traffic and sanitation personnel and members of the Liga ng Barangay were immunized using flu and pneumonia vaccines.
For more efficiency during the actual vaccination, Treñas said the city will be divided into nine health districts from the original seven. City Proper and Jaro districts will be split; barangays Duran and Esperanza, City Proper and Jaro Plaza and Balantang, Jaro will be deemed as separate “health districts”.
Each district will have four vaccination centers. Inoculation for their respective constituents will be done within three to four days.
Treñas also revealed that hospitals here agreed to do the vaccination of their own medical personnel, utility workers and their respective families.
On the other hand, Conlu said it will depend on the post-evaluation of the second simulation exercise if there’s a need for another such activity before the vaccines arrive.
He described yesterday’s exercise as more “organized, controlled and systematic” compared to the first one.
Conlu also said there would be proper coordination with various health facilities for patients who would experience adverse reactions after the vaccination.
Meanwhile, though there is no actual survey yet, Conlu believes public interest in the vaccination has increased, citing the education campaign launched by the city government.
“Bisan sa barangay officials, 50 percent lang sang una. Subong 100 percent na. Ang iban nga mga sectors naton, mga drivers, vendors sang una gaduha-duha pero daku nga percent nila ang nag-okay na nga magpa-vaccinate,” Conlu said./PN
