The Iloilo City government will be implementing the “no booster, no entry” policy at the Iloilo City Hall effective January 17, 2022.

Dated December 27, 2021, City Hall Administrator Melchor Tan issued Office Order No. OCA-2021-065 addressed to all department heads and heads of offices, stating that the policy is applicable to all city hall employees and clients transacting business thereat.

The order reads that all city government employees who have been fully vaccinated by September but have not received COVID-19 booster shots will not be allowed to report to work.

Department heads and heads of offices are directed to advice their personnel under their department and offices who are fully vaccinated to have their booster shots before January 17 of next year.

Likewise, clients who wish to transact business at the city hall will also have to present their COVID-19 booster cards.

Mayor Jerry Treñas, for his part, said city hall employees who will fail to get booster shots before January 17 may be allowed to be on a work-from-home arrangement.

The city mayor reiterated the importance of having booster shots especially with the threat of Omicron variant of the COVID-19.

Earlier, Treñas said the city government will offer booster shots to anyone from across Western Visayas who are already fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

He noted that the city government will open its mega-vaccination sites to all should there be enough supply of vaccines for booster shots.

In an advisory, the Department of Health announced that the Food and Drug Administration had approved a shorter waiting time for booster shots. These could now be availed by fully vaccinated people three months after their last dose.

“Let’s all get our booster shots. The Omicron variant of the COVID-19 is affecting the USA and Europe. Let us get as much protection as possible when it is already allowed,” said Treñas. (Glenda Tayona)/WDJ