Davao City – A total of 24,639 or 88.64% of the total 27,796 targeted priority group A1 or frontline workers have so far received their COVID-19 vaccines since the Davao City government started rolling out the vaccination program in March.
Also, 11,397 or 35.92% of the total targeted eligible population in the priority group A1 have already received their second dose of the anti-Covid vaccines as of May 15.
Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte, on Monday, May 17, during her regular program aired via 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio, said that more Dabawenyos have yet to receive their first dose of anti-Covid vaccines as the vaccination rollout for senior citizens started last week.
Last week, the vaccination for seniors was suspended due to tropical storm Crising, which brought heavy rains in the city.
More seniors are set to get vaccinated this week and in the coming days. Currently, a total of 3,387 or 3.84% of the entire targeted eligible population of the priority group A2 or senior citizens have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccines.
The city government is targeting to inoculate 88,000 eligible senior citizens.
The vaccination for senior citizens is currently being undertaken at SM Lanang Premier, SM City Davao, A. Mabini Elementary School, Matina Aplaya Elementary School, Malagos Elementary School, Crossing Bayabas National High School, Kor-Phil Vocational Training Center in Bunawan, Calinan Central Elementary School and other participating private hospitals in the city.
The city mayor also reminded Dabawenyos that everyone should avail of the anti-Covid vaccines that are currently available in the city.
“Actually, bawal mopili og bakuna. Always ginasulti sa atoa that the best vaccine is the one that is available (Actually, we are not allowed to choose our vaccine. We are always reminded that the best vaccine is the available one),” Duterte said, while urging everyone to follow their designated areas for vaccination.
Meanwhile, Dr. Josephine Villafuerte, the city’s vaccination cluster head, said the city government will put up additional vaccination sites to speed up the vaccination program.
Villafuerte said they are also currently reviewing Davao City National High School in Poblacion District, Vicente Hizon, Sr. Elementary School in Barangay Vicente Hizon, Paquibato District Hospital and Marilog District Hospital as possible additional vaccination hubs.
The city government is planning to set up a mega vaccination site at the Azuela Cove in Lanang, which will accommodate 1,000 vaccinee per day.
As of May 15, the city has received a total of 29,119 doses of COVID-19 vaccines since March this year.
The only COVID-19 vaccines available in the city so far are those of the Chinese firm Sinovac, Britain’s AstraZeneca, and recently, by the American pharmaceutical company Pfizer.
Duterte said the city has already secured doses of COVID-19 vaccines from AstraZeneca and Novavax via tripartite agreements.
She also said that there might be possible delivery of AstraZeneca vaccines by the third quarter of this year.
(City Information Office)
