City gov’t, Merzci to also launch VAX-i

Bacolod City will start its night-time public vaccination drive today, which coincides with the commemoration of the National Heroes Day.

The vaccination drive at the second floor of the Jollibee branch along the city’s Gatuslao-Burgos Streets starts at 8:00 p.m.

COVID-19 jabs will be administered by the medical team of the Emergency Operations Center-Task Force (EOC-TF) and the City Health Office to qualified residents, who have pre-registered online.

The city government will also launched today its third mobile vaccination unit or the Vax-i, courtesy of Merzci, according to City Administrator Em Legaspi-Ang.

Ang, also the concurrent EOC-TF executive director and COVID-19 Vaccination Council coordinator, said that with the day-and-night vaccination of the EOC-TF, the city government is, consequently, plugging all holes to fast-track its target to achieve herd immunity, which is by the end of December 2021.

Also being targeted as priority of the 24-hour vaccination are the economic frontliners, Mayor Evelio Leonardia said.

Meanwhile, after the first night-time vaccination drive which will run until 8:00 a.m. tomorrow, the EOC-TF resumes regular operations for night-time vaccination on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays to cover as many Bacolod residents, Ang said.

The 8:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. schedule, another first by Bacolod City, is an aggressive and innovative approach to keep local communities safe as the LGU continues to experience a decline in COVID infections during the month of August, Ang pointed out.

It also complements, she said, the continued daily schedules in 27 vaccination sites, the jabs given at different malls, on-site drive at Business Process Outsourcing firms, the drive-thru campaign at Ayala Malls Capitol Central and the mobile Vax-i targetting market vendors and public utility drivers since mid-August./WDJ