The Bacolod City government has opened its COVID-19 vaccination program to the general public starting October 11, thus making all Bacolod residents aged 18 and above qualified to receive jabs regardless of their priority groups.

The Emergency Operations Center-Task Force (EOC-TF) took this move in view of the high death rate due to COVID-19 that was recorded in September 2021.

“Everyone is now a “top priority,”  EOC-TF Executive Director and COVID-19 Vaccination Council (CoVaC) Coordinator Em Ang said.

A total of 168 COVID-19 deaths were recorded in the city last September, the EOC-TF said, adding that 140 of the fatalities were unvaccinated. Only 28 were vaccinated.

“Like everything in life, this is an ongoing risk assessment. If it is raining and you’ll be outdoors, you bring an umbrella. If you are in a crowded gathering, potentially with unvaccinated people, you put your mask on and keep social distance. If you are unvaccinated and eligible for the vaccine, the best thing you can do is to get vaccinated,” Ang said.

Recent studies showed that people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 continue to have strong protection compared to those who are not.

“For the convenience of our residents, we have extended our vaccination operations at the SMX Convention Center (SM City) and Ayala Malls Capitol Central from Oct. 11 to 17,” the EOC-TF said. “Both mall-based vaccination centers will no longer have days off this week. We have to vaccinate every qualified Bacolodnon who is willing to get vaccinated.”

The city government, through the EOC-TF and the CoVaC, is encouraging Bacolod residents to get vaccinated, with the goal of achieving herd immunity.

Various initiatives have been adopted to beef up Bacolod’s vaccination campaign, including the mobile vaccination (VAX-i), drive-thru vaccination, 24-hour vaccination center, on-site BPO vaccination, and mall-based vaccination, among others./WDJ