A COVID-19 vaccination drive for pregnant women who are in their second or third trimester (three months and above) and breastfeeding mothers will be conducted at the Ayala Malls Capitol Central on September 22 and 30, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
This will be spearheaded by the Bacolod City Emergency Operations Center-Task Force (EOC-TF), COVID-19 Vaccination Council (CoVaC) and the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society (POGS) – Negros Occidental Chapter.
Expectant and breastfeeding mothers interested to get vaccinated on said dates are required to bring the following:
- medical certificate from their OB
- ultrasound result
- mother’s book from health center
The EOC-TF urges pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers to have themselves vaccinated, as they are more likely to experience severe illness due to COVID-19.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the benefits of the vaccine may be greatest for pregnant women at highest risk from COVID-19, such as frontline health workers, people living in areas of high transmission, and those with health conditions like hypertension (high blood pressure) and diabetes that add to their risk of severe disease.
Since August, right after an advisory came out from the Department of Health (DOH) and POGS officially recommending vaccination for pregnant women, priority lanes have been provided for their convenience during vaccination, according to the EOC-TF.
“Several pregnant women in Bacolod have been vaccinated. They have been proactively coming to our vaccination centers, and many have shown interests,” the EOC-TF added.
Bacolod has been proactively offering several flexible methods to get COVID-19 jabs.
These include the VAX-i mobile vaccination drive which mobilizes five buses around the city as well as personnel for onsite visits; barangay and cluster vaccination; mall-based vaccination (Ayala Malls Capitol Central, CityMall Goldenfield, CityMall Mandalagan, Gaisano City, Robinsons Place, SM City); graveyard shift vaccination drive for graveyard/night-duty BPO workers – the only one of its kind in the country; two drive-thru vaccination sites at Ayala Malls Capitol Central; and 24/7 vaccination drive at Jollibee Gatuslao and Jollibee East./WDJ