BAGUIO may have a roller coaster experience with COVID-19 but at the rate its vaccination program is going, it may soon be on the level in its battle with the dreaded virus.
Mayor Benjie Magalong said that Baguio has dispensed around 82,500 COVID-19 vaccines, of which 45 percent (or 37,125) already is for the second dose.
With the supposed city population of 370,000, that is equivalent to 10 percent of the population already supposedly fully protected and 42,375 already on its way after four to eight weeks.
More importantly, however, is that 22.3 percent of Baguio’s total population have already had at least one jab of COVID-19.
That is the highest among all LGUs in the country.
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has lauded six government units for their high numbers of administered vaccines and fully vaccinated citizens and Baguio is at the top of the list of those outside Manila.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Monday lauded three National Capital Region (NCR) local governments for their vaccination figures.
Quezon City was the first among the cities, having administered at least 414,850 jabs after a single-day record of 37,234 shots administered on Tuesday. Next on the list were Manila with 326,101 jabs, and Caloocan with 238,768.
These may be much higher than the total vaccines dispensed to Baguio, but their huge population meant they have less percentage of vaccinees. That meant 15 percent of Quezon City already had at least one jab. For Manila, about 16.75 percent already have had at least one jab while 14 percent of Caloocan’s population have been vaccinated.
Meanwhile, Baguio was lauded for having the highest number of vaccinations completed outside of the NCR, at nearly six digits.
As of Wednesday, Baguio had administered 99,745 vaccine shots to its residents, Año said. This was even higher than Magalong’s estimate.
Outside of the NCR and next to Baguio were Cebu City with 55,214 and Cagayan de Oro City with 43,462.
On top of the administered vaccines, Año said that some 32.27 million people have registered for vaccination nationwide, and urged unregistered citizens to register and get the vaccine.
“We are calling on the LGUs to look for ways and think of strategies to convince more people to have themselves vaccinated,” Año said.
Allotted vaccines in Baguio are down to 19,533 with only the Pfizer brand available as Sinovac, Astrazeneca and Gamaleya have already all been used up for 82,800 jabs as of June 24.
Of the allotted 100,739 vaccines, 57,659 are for first dose and 43,080 as second dose, from all brands. Due to manufacturing error, there is wastage of 137 doses equivalent to 0.39 percent from the total.
As to vaccine brands, Sinovac was used as first and second dose to 48,430; Astrazeneca, 18,499; Gamaleya, 300; and Pfizer, 15,571 for a total of 82,800 jabs. These were given at the following vaccine sites: University of Baguio gym, Saint Louis University gym, SLU school at Saint Vincent, SM Parking area, and at the Baguio Country Club site.
As to priority category, 28,789 were used for first and second doses of A1 or health workers; 26,611 for A2 or senior citizens; 26,019 for A3 or adults with comorbidities; the rest for A5 individuals.
The validated report is from the Department of Health, in coordination with personnel from the Health Services Office, Dr. Khecy Manuel-Colas and Risk Management Officer Cecile Agpawa.
But according to Magalong, Pfizer vaccines have been used up since Friday and only Sinovac vaccines are now available.
He said that the city has 11,000 Sinovac vaccines available.
By next week, about 5,000 Gamaleya Sputnik vaccines would be available.
Vaccinees are reminded to pre-register with bakuna.baguio.gov.ph as numbers would determine vaccine request and allocation to different areas from the national government, Mayor Benjamin Magalong pointed out during the recent management committee meeting.
For the A3 or adults (18 to 59 years old) with comorbidities, documents or medical certificate/clearance as proof of illnesses are needed. Those in the A3 category are screened on site before vaccination.
Other health services include the fast lane for persons with infirmities, and mobile vaccine (Movacc) for senior citizens, persons with disabilities and those without access to vaccination sites. A movacc team moves around the barangays for said patients.
Essential workers or A4 registration is ongoing. Essential workers are those in the commuter transport (land, air, water) and logistics; vendors in public and private groceries, supermarkets supply and delivery; manufacture of food and pharmaceutical products, retail and delivery; financial workers both in the public and private sector; religious leaders; media, telecom and electricity services delivery; OFWs for deployment in two months; frontline government workers; law, justice and those in the social services; transport, quarantine and workers’ safety and Covid response; tax collection workers, those with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Registration for the indigent population or A5 is also ongoing. – with reports from Frank Cimatu and Julie G. Fianza
