In what can be called one big bold step to cover a bigger COVID-19 Vaccine coverage, Borongan City opened two more vaccination sites, in barangays Lalawigan and Sta. Fe in addition to the three other existing ones.
On May 24, all five Vaccination Sites simultaneously rolled out inoculations, covering some 800 more Boronganons, falling under categories A1, A2 and A3.
City Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan C. Agda expresses his thankfulness to DOH-Regional Office 8, under the able leadership of its regional director, Dr. Exuperia Sabalberino for granting an earlier request for additional vaccines. The grant was sent to the city LGU thru the Provincial Health Office(PHO), headed by Dr. Marian Isiderio, Provincial Health Officer(PHO)3.
The City Government of Borongan’s request for more vaccines followed an earlier need as one vaccination site ran-out of vaccines while some more qualified individuals stood in the queue but eventually turned their backs in sheer frustration.
“We are ready, our people are prepared but where is the vaccine?”, Mayor Agda sighed.
But May 24 was different, because as early as 7:30 in the morning, PHO Dr. Rodel Delgado was all set to distribute Sinovac and AstraZeneca vaccines to the staff of the five city health officers namely: Dr. Patricia Bernadette Apita for Lalawigan National High School Vaccine Site, Dr. Daisy Sacmar for Pilot Elementary School, Dr. Raul Villanueva for Baybay blvd. Drive-Thru, Dr. Katrina Camille Rapada for Maypangdan Covered Court and Dr, Bernadette Galacan for Sta. Fe Covered Covered Court.
Since the D-day of the simultaneous inoculation fall on a Monday, all five doctors spent part of their weekend in their respective sites to guide and supervise the carpentry work, with the assistance of the barangay officials.
Came the D-day and in Sta. Fe, Dr. Galacan felt anxious at the start, with 30 more unconsumed vaccines from her allocation of 100, as lunch time drew closer. Thankfully, she said, not long after, some seniors teemed by the entrance of the vaccination site . She also attributed the vaccination of some 103 individuals to the “convincing power”, she termed it, of Barangay Chairman, Karen Afable.
Canjaway Barangay Chairman Nelida Palada said, it was the proximity of the vaccines that made her people decide to receive, just in the next barangay as they did not need to spend for transport fare to the city proper.
Maypangdan Vaccination Site, with Dr. Rapada delivered some 111 AstraZeneca. The site being near the medical college of Eastern Samar State University, was able to inoculate 23 senior medical students other than senior citizens and co-morbid patients.
Dr. Daisy Sacmar, who manned he ESDPES Vaccination Site informed, that by 3PM, all the 150 allocations were exhausted, in fact five more qualifiers didn’t catch up.
“They had to be sent to Maypangdan Vaccination Site, where there were still remaining bottles of Astra. They were brought via the City’s Coaster Van, “ said Dr. Sacmar.
A3 qualifier Corazon Galupe was overwhelmed at the news that all five of them were to be brought by the official vehicle of the LGU. According to her, they were overjoyed because Borongan LGU attends to individuals who are willing to be vaccinated.
“Hinulat pa gud la kami, pinasakay tipa uli,” was her remark in disbelief.
Dr. Apita, for Lalawigan Vaccination Site was equally proud that she with her team was able to serve 150 anti-COVID vaccines to some 150 qualifiers most of whom were senior citizens and frontline workers. Even if her Vaccination Site, was one of the two newly opened ones, she and her team, were also well prepared, a day before the vaccines reached her table. Dr. Trish as she is fondly called by friends was happy to have in her team, one, if not best medical volunteer who served as screener and counselor to incoming A1, A2 and A3 qualifiers. Her name is Dr. Rowena L. Agda, the Mayor’s better half.
The first-ever Drive-Thru Vaccination Area in the region, located at Baybay blvd drew more patients. Ran by Dr. Raul Villanueva, the site had two queues, one drive- thru for those who opted to receive the jab, just on board their single motorcycle, tricycle or car. Another queue was designated for qualifiers who did not bring their rides.
A total of 300 Boronganons, were vaccinated, 200 of them at the Drive-Thru. Mrs. Eufrocina “Dakay”Japzon said, it was her choice to receive the vaccine inside her car, because it was faster, safer, and more convenient for someone like her whose BP shoots whenever she is in a hot environment.
But the scorching heat in the boulevard area was briefly laid at bay by the waiting seniors and co-morbids, when the energetic dancers of Mr. Neil Pinarok, Provincial Tourism Officer performed a hip-hop dance number. Another group of volunteers, the Rotary Club of the city came to offer screening services. Retired nurse Adel Zamora and VetMed Doc. Jessie Solidon aptly rendered voluntary service.
Overall, 800 vaccines were efficiently delivered all together in one day, by five city medical doctors in the five identified Vaccination Sites.
As Doc. Rapada puts it, “The demand for the vaccines is high, but the supply is low.” Understandably, this law of supply and demand holds true, the world over, but the City Government remains unfazed in its plan to procure vaccines for all Boronganons until it is able to obtain herd immunity.
To date more or less some 3,500 residents have already been vaccinated since day-1, notes Dr. Apita. She said this may be still far from the so-called “herd immunity, but the city LGU’s plan to provide vaccines and administer the same to all city dwellers remains in force.
“I urge everyone to hang-on, particularly the elderly and co-morbids, said Mayor Agda.” Dire na maiha, madatong na an at gin order.” Mayor Agda assured his fellow Boronganons. He concluded by expressing his gratefulness for the help extended by health workers coming from DepEd, the NDP of the DOH, volunteers and Dr. Rodel Delgado of the PHO.
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