The City Health Office utilized the 940 vials of AstraZeneca and 81 vials of CoronaVac (Sinovac) that the Department of Health handed to the local government unit on March 25.

CHO prioritized the vaccination of the LGU’s Covid-19 response teams including the doctors, nurses, and employees working in the Rural Health Units (RHU); Health and Emergency Management Staff (HEMS); members of the Task Force Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH); Barangay Health Workers (BHW); Barangay Health and Emergency Response Teams (BHERTS); and response teams of the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO) and City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO).

Before their vaccination, Mayor Edwin “EdSa” Santiago thanked the medical frontliners for their heroic role.

“During the surge of Covid-19 in 2020, and even until now, kayo ang naging sundalo at nakikipaglaban sa kalaban. Kayo ang naging sandalan ng siyudad sa napakahirap na sitwasyon kaya nararapat lang na kayo ang unang mabigyan ng proteksyon ngayong naririto na ang bakuna,” Santiago said.

“Ipinagmamalaki ko kayo at ng buong siyudad. Hindi malilimutan ang inyong katapatan at serbisyo sa mga Fernandinos at cabalen. Mabuhay kayong mga bagong bayani ng San Fernando,” the mayor added.

All registered recipients of the vaccine underwent thorough screening and counseling before vaccination to ensure their health and safety. After vaccination, they were monitored in the post-observation area in case adverse reactions or allergies develop.

 If no adverse reactions or allergies developed, individuals inoculated with the AstraZeneca will have to come back after eight weeks for their second dose while those who received CoronaVac (Sinovac) shots will have to come back after four weeks to get a second dose.

Dr. Carlos B. Mercado, City Health Officer-in-Charge and one of the Incident Commanders of the Incident Management Team, said there’s nothing to fear about the vaccines as he encouraged the Fernandinos to register for the vaccination program of the LGU.

“Huwag po tayong matakot magpabakuna, ito po ay hindi gamot sa Covid-19 pero ito po ay magbibigay proteksyon sa atin upang maiwasan ang mga kaso ng severe at fatality. Kaya inaanyayahan po namin ang lahat na magpa-rehistro at maki-isa sa programang pagbabakuna ng San Fernando. Rest assured, ang CHO po kasama ang ating medical units ay nakaantabay sa inyo sa entire process ng inyong vaccination,” Mercado explained.

The local government targets to vaccinate 1,021 frontliners in the LGU until March 28.

In the second week of April, Mercado said, the DOH will give another set of vaccines. These will benefit the rest of the frontliners in private clinics, dental clinics, and other medical laboratories.