- MITCH LIPA
The local government of Murcia is almost ready for the vaccination dry run set on March 12 by the Provincial Health Office as Capitol announced it has also formed another Emergency Operation Center for the vaccine rollout.
Murcia Mayor Gerry Rojas directed municipal health officer Dr. Raymund Antonio Maguad to prepare the participation of the LGU’s medical personnel as well as the list of beneficiaries in Barangay Cansilayan Gym.
The town will utilize not only its Municipal Health Office but also the Barangay Health Units and Emergency Response Team while village volunteers and the local police will take care of security concerns.
The MHO will set up the venue for registration, the actual site for the dry run as well as the area for post-inoculation observation.
About 100 recipients will take part in the vaccination dry run.
Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, provincial health officer, said the dry run will help them determine the time and motion of the actual vaccination to correct areas of concern to ensure a smooth procedure.
The other city and municipal health officers will observe the activity, Tumimbang said.
The Department of Health has required LGUs to conduct dry run activities to ensure the readiness of every sector.
Tumimbang disclosed that the provincial government has also established its EOC purposely for vaccination.
The order came after the meeting of the vaccination task force Wednesday at the Capitol, he said.
The task force meeting, which was presided by Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, also finalized the composition of the sub-committees.
The infectious disease control team from the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital explained the importance of the vaccination program, adding that vaccine acceptance is one of the many challenges that they are encountering at the moment.
Negros Occidental is not included in the Sinovac rollout in Western Visayas.
The first batch of vaccines is expected today and intended for the more than 3,000 medical frontliners of Bacolod City.
The provincial government is buying 100,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines for 50,000 persons, Tumimbang said.
The vaccines are for frontliners and Capitol employees.
The 31 town and cities of the province will each receive 2,000 doses of vaccine for 1,000 employees. – MML
