Dr. Pablo O. Torre Memorial Hospital (Riverside Medical Center) held a ceremonial COVID-19 vaccination yesterday with seven vaccinees from among its top health personnel and medical workers.
The said hospital is one of the two recipient hospitals in Bacolod City to receive the first batch of Sinovac vaccines as part of 6,300 vaccines allotted to the city. The recipient hospitals were chosen by the local government of Bacolod and the Department of Health (DOH)-Western Visayas.
The medical workers and frontliners are given priority by the government to avail the early batches of the vaccines.
The first batch of vaccinees from the Dr. Pablo O. Torre Memorial Hospital who volunteered to be vaccinated were the following: Dr. Jose Pepito Malapitan, Acting Assistant Medical Director; Dr. Evram Corral, Chairperson-Department of Internal Medicine; Dr. Therese Angeli Cocjin, Infectious Disease Consultant; Dr. Jeanette Umali, Head-Antimicrobial Stewardship Committee; Ms. Ma. Liza Peraren, RN, Nursing Director; Ms. Nancy Hizon, Corporate Human Resource Officer; and Engr. Noel Garbo, Corporate Strategic Support Division Officer.
The vaccination was administered by vaccinators, RNs Hannah Khay Treyes and John Robert Gedoria.
Genesis Goldi D. Golingan, President and CEO of the Riverside Medical Center, in a live video message, said that “now we see a more prominent and brighter light at the end of the tunnel with the vaccines’ arrival, but the battle for COVID-19 is not yet over.”
Golingan also stated that while there are several types of vaccines available worldwide, their “doctors always emphasize, that the best vaccine is whatever is available.”
He also expressed gratitude to the national government, Emergency Operations Center (EOC), Bacolod City government, City Health Office, and the DO-6 for the privilege to have their medical workers and frontliners included for the early allocation of the vaccines.
Meanwhile, Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia, in a relayed message through Bacolod City Health Officer Dr. Edwin Miraflor, Jr., said that “the development and approval of safe and effective vaccines in less than a year after the emergence of the new virus, is a standing scientific achievement and a much needed source of hope.”
Leonardia, after announcing that he had already purchased additional 650,000 AstraZeneca vaccines, said that he will make sure that there will be enough vaccines for all Bacolodnons.
Dr. Chris Sorongon, deputy for medical data and analysis of the EOC, lauded Dr. Pablo O. Torre Memorial Hospital for being the host of several clinical trials.
Yesterday’s event was attended by Dr. Ma. Antonia S. Gensoli, Medical Director, Dr. Pablo O. Torre Memorial Hospital; Miraflor, representing Leonardia; Sorongon; Mr. Ben Delacruz, Development Management Officer, representing Dr. Emilia P. Monicimpo, Director IV of the DOH-6; and Ms. Socorro Victoria De Leon, Corporate Finance Officer. (Robert Sumugat)/WDJ.