IT’S mission accomplished for the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) after more than 500 athletes and coaches bound for the Hanoi 31st Southeast Asian Games got their second dose of the Sinovac anti-Covid-19 vaccine on Friday.
“Let’s move on to the second batch,” POC President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, who oversaw the inoculation at the Manila Prince Hotel along San Marcelino Street. The athletes and coaches got their first dose in the same venue last May 28.
“Perhaps the second batch will get their vaccines next week, and those who missed today’s inoculation will complete their doses along with the second batch,” Tolentino added.
Tolentino thanked the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases for putting priority to athletes and coaches bound for the SEA Games and the Tokyo Olympics.
Tokyo-bound Cris Nievarez got his second dose along with athletes and coaches in athletics, canoe-kayak, badminton, shooting, golf, sepaktakraw, triathlon, fin swimming, skateboarding, handball, tennis, judo, volleyball, archery, rowing, pencak silat, muay, cycling, bodybuilding, wrestling, esports, fencing, chess, billiards, kickboxing, jiujitsu, table tennis, wushu, bowling, dancesports, gymnastics, karate, kurash, basketball and vovinam.
Staff from the Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine Sports for the Differently Abled were also inoculated.
“It’s a great feeling that I am fully vaccinated now, it gives me comfort to work and train,” Nievarez said. “I would like to thank the POC, its president Bambol Tolentino, the PSC, and the MVP Sports Foundation for helping us.”
Volleyball stars Abby Maraño, Jaja Santiago, Eya Laure, Mylene Paat, Marck Espejo and Bryan Bagunas also got their second dose.