Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia is exhorting Bacolodnons to take part in the November 29 to December1 National Vaccination Day in a bid to fast-track the government’s goal to achieve herd immunity.
Leonardia’s call was echoed by Dr. Chris Sorongon, deputy for medical and data analysis of the Emergency Operations Center-Task Force, who also disclosed that last Tuesday Bacolod’s vaccination teams registered a record-high of 13,403 individuals inoculated in a single day.
The EOC-TF and the COVID-19 Vaccination Council, led by Executive Director Em Legaspi-Ang, exceeded their original target of only 12,000 after administering first dose to 4,282 city folk and second dose to 6,494 others on top of 2,627 Bacolodnons who received booster jabs.
Sorongon led the Vac-To-School initiative together with executives of the Negros Occidental Private Schools Sports Cultural and Educational Association and Association of Colleges and Universities in Negros Occidental at the University of St. La Salle Tuesday, delivered anti-COVID-19 jabs to some 250 students, household members and teaching and non-teaching personnel of USLS.
It was the fourth time that La Salle had participated in the onsite vaccination program of the city.
Sorongon said the National Vaccination Day celebration on November 29 to December 1 will be a venue to extend its helping hand to curb the spread of COVID-19 by vaccinating 80 percent of the city’s population.
They also hope to reach far-flung areas, the business sector and more schools while maintaining a steady administration of anti-COVID jabs to 6,000 Bacolod vaccinees per day.
The EOC-TF, alongside the Department of Health in Western Visayas, reported earlier this month that Bacolod had already reached above the 50 percent vaccination rate.
Leonardia is confident that the local government will reach its goal to inoculate 100 percent of the city’s target population before the year ends.
Around 40-50 vaccination centers, including schools, malls and other establishments will be opened to accommodate those who want to avail of the vaccine, Sorongon said.
Leonardia commended school-based organizations for supporting the city’s program to battle the pandemic.
He also asked their help as Bacolod is now “shifting its target” to educate the community about the vaccine.
“We are now intensifying and accelerating our vaccination program and everybody will have to do their share,” Leonardia said.
While the city’s COVID-19 cases have gone down in the past three to four weeks, Leonardia reminded residents anew not to be complacent despite the ease in restrictions.
“Let us not stop until we reach herd immunity,” Leonardia added.*
