State-run Baguio hospital workers among first to get sinovac jabs

March 6, 2021 Headlines

BAGUIO CITY (March 5, 2021) – Health workers and staff members of the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center led by Medical Center Chief, Dr. Ricardo Ruñez were the first to get the Sinovac vaccines Friday morning here.
During the ceremonial kickoff of the vaccination program, Dr. Runez with leading staff members of the government hospital including department chiefs of the hospital and even low-rank personnel led the kickoff rites at the BGH garden park.
At least 800 were first to get the vaccines, said Aileen Paguio-Refuerzo, chief of the Baguio City public information office said.
Dr. Ruñez had high hopes that the kick-off can help convince the citizens, especially in Baguio City, to get inoculated. BGH workers are the priority, added Paguio-Refuerzo. The Baguio City local government earlier procured from AztraZeneca over 380,000 doses of vaccines that will be used for the more than 190,000 adult population in the city to achieve 70-percent herd immunity.
Slight delays in the arrival of the vaccines were however noted though the local government expected the arrival very soon or at the latest early second quarter of this year. The city has a population of more than 378,000 based on the day culled from the latest census by the Philippine Statistics Authority, where 63 percent or more than 239,000 individuals are said to be adults.
Just a week ago though, DSWD Cordillera regional director Leo Quintilla bared most people in the highland Cordillera region remain hesitant to take anti-Covid 19 vaccination, even if authorities are going round the clock to assure its safety and effectiveness.
The acceptance rate of the anti-Covid vaccines is still low among the indigent families here in the Cordillera Region, Quintilla added as he based it on their latest survery to 4Ps members and those under the “Listahanan” list of households.
Most of the respondents, said the agency director, are not willing to take the vaccines because of the fears of the vaccines’ side effects. “Puwede ba akong magpabakuna, buntis ako, may sakit ako at maraming tanong,” (Can I be vaccinated even if I am pregnant, I am sick, and many other questions) he said on the inquiries of the respondents regarding the vaccines. He traced such questions coming from the respondents show there is lack of information and the understanding on the vaccination program.
Quintilla said the DSWD is geared to conduct extensive information dissemination on the safety and advantages of the vaccines to the beneficiaries of the different social protection programs of the agency, in order to wipe out their fears. He admitted though that it is a challenge for government.
Quintilla also said that the DSWD Cordillera has already prepared the list of the poor residents of the region who will be prioritized whenever the vaccines are available.
Artemio A. Dumlao/ABN