The City of San Carlos in Negros Occidental has set aside PHP20 million for the procurement of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines as the local government finalizes its list of residents eligible for vaccination.
In a statement, Mayor Renato Gustilo said they have yet to choose a specific vaccine, but said amount has already been allotted.
“Take into account the venues for mass vaccination, number of qualified vaccinators, and number of shots that a vaccinator can give per day,” the mayor told the City Health Office (CHO).
On Thursday, Dr. Jessa Tiapon, health cluster head of the Emergency Operations Center, presented the National Deployment and Covid-19 Vaccination Plan to the city officials.
Through the activity, the CHO aims to identify the gaps in the local government unit level to come up with solutions in a whole of government manner as well as the roles and responsibilities that each individual of the community should play.
The National Deployment and Vaccination Plan for Covid-19 includes the vaccine road map strategic framework as well as the chapter or stages of vaccination plan from scientific evaluation and selection down to assessment, evaluation and monitoring, including the importance of Covid-19 Vaccination Operations Center.
“A bottom-up planning process is also carried out to determine local needs and gaps to ensure smooth and satisfactory vaccine implementation in the city,” Tiapon said.
Next week, another meeting will be held to further discuss the National Deployment and Vaccination Plan and finalize the creation of the city’s Covid-19 Vaccination Operations Center.
As of Feb. 18, San Carlos, the province’s northernmost city, has only four active cases, which is part of the total 546 confirmed cases. Some 506 patients already recovered while 36 died. (Nanette Guadalquiver via Philippine News Agency (PNA), photo courtesy of PNA)