By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Bacolod City’s COVID Vaccination Council (CoVac) is happy with the results of the COVID vaccination simulation exercise (SIMEX) carried out last February 5 in the city’s Barangay Villamonte.

In an interview with Bombo Radyo-Bacolod yesterday morning, Dr. Chris Sorongon, deputy for medical of the city’s Emergency Operations Center, said based on the evaluation carried out by the Department of Health 6 (DOH-6) during the simulated vaccination, they found that it is systematic and the city is well-prepared for its vaccination program.

However, he said there are some issues that need to be ironed out although he noted that it is not too serious.

The simulated vaccination exercise is one of the requirements needed in preparation for the vaccination program which will be launched sometime this year.

Sorongon also said that the CoVac’s Vaccination Center Team has identified 25 vaccination sites in the city which have qualified based on the requirements set by the DOH.

Among the requirements needed for a vaccination center is that it is accessible to a nearby hospital and has ample water facilities.

He further added the CoVac Council is now busy preparing the needed cold storage facilities which would be used to store the COVID-19 vaccines.

Last month, Bacolod City signed a deal with British vaccine manufacturer AstraZeneca, earmarking P300 million for the purchase of 650,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines, and the city is aiming to vaccinate at least 80 percent of its total population./DGB, WDJ