Individuals under the priority groups A1.8 (overseas Filipino workers or OFWs), A2 (senior citizens) and A3 (persons with comorbidities) are allowed to get vaccinated against COVID-19 on a walk-in basis in Bacolod City.
All they have to do is present proof that they belong to the priority groups: senior citizen’s ID for senior citizens, medical certificate stating their comorbidity for persons with comorbidities and agency contract or certification for OFWs.
The city’s Emergency Operations Center-Task Force (EOC-TF) and the COVID-19 Vaccination Council (CoVaC) started rolling out Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccines at the SMX Convention Center, Ayala Malls Capitol Central, and Robinsons Place last Wednesday, July 21.
“We will give out J&J vaccines – a single-dose vaccine – for walk-in residents under priority groups A2 and A3 starting today, and until supply lasts,” Dr. Edwin Miraflor, OIC of the City Health Office, said.
Meanwhile, Pfizer vaccines are being rolled out at the Bacolod City Government Center for OFWs.
According to Miraflor, seafarers who want to get vaccinated may also bring their MARINA ID or Seaman’s Book, aside from their agency contracts or certifications.
On the other hand, daily schedules for barangay and cluster vaccinations will be posted on the Bacolod City PIO official Facebook page once they are finalized.
On Monday, July 19, Bacolod received 51,040 doses of COVID-19 vaccines, which is the biggest volume that the city government received in one delivery ever since the start of its vaccination drive.
The 51,040 doses were composed of AstraZeneca with 18,700 doses; Johnson & Johnson with 30,000 doses; and Pfizer with 2,340 doses.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia thanked Secretary Carlito Galvez, chief implementer of the National Task Force Against COVID-19, for keeping his word of making Bacolod among the priority areas for vaccine allocation.
“We are sure this volume will help us accelerate the implementation of our vaccination program,” the mayor added.
According to Leonardia, the AstraZeneca doses that were recently delivered form part of the supply that was secured by Bacolod in its tripartite agreement with the national government and AstraZeneca.
“With this, we expect our locally funded vaccines to come on a regular basis,” the mayor added.
The local chief executive said this is “good news to the many who are waiting, considering that we had already been allowed to include priority groups A1 until A5.”
As of July 19, a total of 66,902 Bacolod residents have already been vaccinated. Of the number, 24,040 were fully vaccinated./WDJ