PANDI, Bulacan Mayor Enrico Roque said that mayors should be the first to be inoculated being as the first frontliner in its respective local municipalities as the local government unit of Pandi has started their Covid-19 inoculation roll out activity on Friday.
A total of 500 health workers and other frontliners received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccines in the said one-day vaccination activity held at Pandi Sport Complex in Barangay Poblacion.
According to Dr. Maricel Atal, municipal health officer of Pandi, the Provincial Health Office delivered 540 doses of AstraZeneca for their first vaccine rollout for personnel from private hospitals, as well as staff of the isolation facilities and rural health units in their town were among to receive their first dose of the vaccines
Mayor Roque during interview said that he believed that they are the one (mayors) should considered as “first frontliner” and first to be vaccinated as they are the one who will encourage the people to have inoculated, that is why he also called the Department of Interior Local Government and COVID-19 Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases with the matter.
“Para sakin, kami dapat mga alkalde ang unang mabakunahan kasi kami ang hihikayat sa mga tao na huwag matakot at magpabakuna. Sila rin ang gusto ay mauna kaming mga lider bago sila,” Roque said.
The mayor wanted and assured that the Covid-19 vaccination for 120,000 or 70% of Pandi’s 180,000 population will be completed by the end of the 3rd quarter of the year.
“Hindi ko tinitingnan ang mabakunahan lahat, ang gusto ko ay mabakunahan ‘agad’ ang bawat Pandienyo,” he said.
Based on the record, the Municipality of Pandi was among the leading municipality of the Top 5 municipalities in Central Luzon who were recognized by the Department of Health in implementing vaccine program. These include Measles, Rubella and Oral Poliomyelitis Vaccine Supplemental Immunization Activity (MR-OPV SIA) and Polio vaccine.
The vaccine activity was administered by private doctor volunteers wherein one of the five vaccinators is Dr. Mary Jane Roque, wife of Mayor Roque.
Before the dose of the vaccine was administered, they underwent physical assessment. After the injection, they were required to stay for half an hour for post-vaccination monitoring of possible side effects and given a contact number in case adverse effects would manifest.
The mayor encouraged the people of Pandi to submit themselves for vaccination so that they will be able to meet the target percentage population of vaccination to have immunity for the protection of the families and community and that no one will succumb to Covid-19 anymore.
The first to get vaccinated was Doreen Agata, a 22 years old volunteer nurse of Pandi Maternity clinic followed by other health workers and front liners of the said town.
In Meycauayan, the City Government here has completed the Covid-19 vaccination program for 1,747 frontline health workers from private hospitals and rural health units in this city.
The inoculation activity for private frontline health workers started last week where the second and third batch followed after three days, they were from Meycauayan Doctors Hospital, Marymount Hospital and Nazarenus Hospital who all received the Aztraseneca vaccine.
The kick-off activity of Covid-19 vaccine roll-out in Meycauayan was held in Meycauayan Doctors Hospital administered by Ruby Ann Solo, MDH staff nurse and witnessed by City Mayor Linabelle Ruth Villarica and City Health Officer Dr. Abelardo Bordador.
The first doctor who was inoculated was MDH Director Dr. Cesaro Ira, 72 years old wherein the inoculation was held at the covered court of Marymount Professionals Colleges located inside MDH compound in Banga, Meycauayan City.
Villarica said, the top priority recipients of the vaccines in the city are the frontline health workers from private and public. The government health workers are scheduled to be vaccinated next week.
In Bulacan, the first health frontliners who received the vaccine from the drugmaker Sinovac Biotech were Dr. Hjordis Marushka Celis, chief of the BMC and Provincial Health Officer II followed by Dr. Jose Emiliano Gatchalian, BMC Hospital Training Officer and Alma Villena, BMC Nurse Supervisor which was held early this month.
Meanwhile, Governor Daniel Fernando recently issued an Executive Order enjoining strict monitoring and compliance with minimum public health standards.
The Bulacan Police headed by Col. Lawrence Cajipe was instructed by the governor to strictly enforce the minimum health and safety protocols as well as implementation of the uniform curfew hour in the entire province.
He also ordered to tighten the border quarantine checkpoints where it shall be recommence and strictly implement the border control policies in order to effectively contain the Covid-19 at the ceitical areas particularly in the entry/ exit of Bulacan-Manila.