A ranking executive of Bacolod’s task force against COVID-19 today cited that the inspiring leadership of Mayor Evelio Leonardia and Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran led to the success of the ongoing vaccination drive and city’s continued battle against the pandemic.
Dr. Chris Sorongon, deputy for medical and data analysis of the Emergency Operations Center-Task Force, also expressed optimism that before Christmas or before the year ends, Bacolod will achieve herd immunity as Department of Health data showed that 84 percent of residents already received at least a single dose, while 66 percent is already fully-vaccinated as of yesterday.
Sorongon said the local COVID-19 vaccination teams had administered initial jabs to 18 percent of the target population, and most of them are actually scheduled for their second dose within the month.
That is why we are confident of achieving herd immunity, he added.
INSPIRING LEADERSHIP
The driving force behind the success of the recent National Vaccination Days from November 29 to December 1, Sorongon said, was the inspiring leadership of city officials led by Leonardia.
Bacolod inoculated 70,752 vaccinees, way above the 66,171 three-day quota originally set by the DOH for the city.
Sorongon and Dr. Edwin Miraflor, Jr., officer-in-charge of the City Health Office, led the city’s participation to the “Bayanihan Bakunahan” campaign of the national government with the LGU opening up 42 vaccination centers in public and private schools, barangays, food chains and malls. It also fielded its five VAX-i mobile vaccination clinics to reach far-flung areas.
“The last three days of the Bayanihan Bakunahan, we saw great improvements in our vaccination drive. Thousands showed up in different vaccination centers. I hope that the high turnout means that we are beginning to eliminate the people’s hesitancy and doubts about the COVID vaccine,” Leonardia said.
The influx of Bacolodnons was described by Sorongon as “amazing,” adding that the success of the Bakunahan was also due to the cooperation of barangay captains who urged their constituents to get inoculated.
“We recognize as well the inspiring leadership of Mayor Bing (Leonardia), Vice Mayor El Cid (Familiaran) and the support of the city councilors,” he added.
He thanked the more than 250 frontline health workers including doctors, nurses, vaccinators, barangay health workers, barangay nutrition scholars, midwives, other volunteers and the EOC-TF team that worked day and night to ensure that everything will be smooth-sailing.
LEADING THE CHARGE
The EOC-TF continued its campaign post-Bayanihan Bakunahan and its frontliners spearheaded the extension of the national vaccination drive.
At St. John’s Institute on December 3, Sorongon echoed Leonardia’s earlier call on Bacolod folk not to let their guard down despite the declining number of cases and encouraged residents to get jabbed to protect their families and communities against COVID-19.
“Bacolod wants to go back to the new normal,” he said.
The mass vaccination drive posted record-breaking numbers for Bacolod on Day One alone, exceeding its daily target of 22,057 by inoculating 29,047 residents, or 131.69 percent above its quota.
Around 18,897 residents were vaxxed on Day Two, and 22,808 more on Day Three.
The official data of the Regional Vaccination Operations Center showed that Bacolod administered a total of 70,752 doses, or 106.92 percent of the city’s original target that was set at 66,171.
“It was amazing. It was an impressive feat of cooperation and showed that public-private partnership is alive and well in the city, especially in this time of pandemic,” Sorongon said in an interview.
The National Task-Force Against COVID-19 announced Thursday that LGU’s can extend the National COVID-19 Vaccination Days until December 3 to “sustain the momentum” and “take advantage” of the public’s interest to protect themselves against the virus.*
