‘Bakuna Bus’ deployed in Zambo

IN EFFORT to vaccinate more people in Zamboanga against the deadly Covid-19 respiratory disease, Mayor Beng Climaco said the City Health Office and the Philippine Red Cross launched the “Bakuna Bus” project.

 

Mayor Beng Climaco and City Health Officer Dr. Dulce Amor Miravite inspect the Bakuna Bus of the Philippine Red Cross. They were accompanied by Zamboanga Red Cross head Josephine Fernandez and Project Bakuna head Mylene Baidiango and staff. (Eugene Elnar)

Climaco said the joint project will run for two weeks and she thanked the PRC for helping the local government in its mass vaccination program. The mayor and City Health Officer Dr. Dulce Amor Miravite together with   launched the project, also dubbed “Health on Wheels.” 

“The Mobile Bakuna bus from Red Cross stands ready to support Zamboanga City to vaccinate Zamboangueños,” Fernandez said. 

Climaco, head of the local Covid-19 task force, said the local government has opened more vaccination sites to make it easier for residents to access the medicines. She said vaccinators also go house-to-house to be able to inoculate more people, especially in far-flung areas, adding the City Health Office also launched drive-thru vaccination sites. 

“We continue the vaccination rollout for all unvaccinated, as well as those partially vaccinated, and at the same time pursuing booster shots for the priority groups,” she said.

More people are now flocking to various vaccination sites across Zamboanga due to the massive local government information campaign on Covid-19 and the efficacy of the vaccines against the disease, especially now that there have been various variants and sub-lineages.

She also renewed calls for residents in remote villages to go to the nearest health centers and get vaccinated to protect them from the virus.

Last March, the Duterte administration congratulated the Zamboanga government for being Number 1 in the country in the implementation of the national vaccination program dubbed “Bayanihan Bakunahan” and the Safety Seal certification, including the digital vaccine certificate.

Zamboanga City was hailed 1st placer for the “2nd Doses Accomplishment” category, followed by Agusan del Sur and Taguig City while under the “A2 Doses” category, Ilocos Norte was the top-performing province followed by Ilocos Sur and Pampanga. Nueva Ecija was 1st placer for the “Total Doses Administered” category followed by Cavite and Bulacan.  

The winners for best performing local governments in support of the Bayanihan Bakunahan were determined by the Department of Health and categorized according to the percentage of accomplishments for 2nd doses, A2 doses, and total doses administered. 

The Department of the Interior and Local Government said Duterte congratulated the winning local governments and the chief executives for their able leadership amid the health crisis, and for being invaluable partners of the national government in executing important programs that contributed to the improved Covid-19 status of the country.   

“Salute to all the recipients of this day’s awards for your robust commitment and partnership with the national government as we altogether implement these programs down to the grassroots. I know and acknowledge that without your support, we would have not surmounted the past two years of this pandemic. Kaya nais kong ipaabot sa inyo ang aking taos-pusong pasasalamat,” Duterte said in a statement released by DILG Secretary Eduardo Año. (Zamboanga Post)