City eyes more micro vax sites in barangays

The Iloilo City government is mulling to open more micro vaccination sites in barangays following the successful COVID-19 inoculation in Barangay Calumpang in Molo district last week.

Mayor Jerry Treñas said they are planning to open more barangay-based vaccination sites in the metro to inoculate more senior citizens and bed-ridden residents.

“We started with the biggest barangay in Iloilo City which is Calumpang which also recorded an all-time high number of cases. Kon successful ining roll-out naton sa mga immuno-compromised, elderlies, stroke victims and persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Calumpang, we will be rolling out more vaccination centers,” he said during the virtual flag ceremony of the Iloilo City government on Monday.

Last Friday, the Iloilo City government vaccinated around 300 PWDs and senior citizens as it piloted the first barangay-based vaccination site in Calumpang.

Calumpang, the most populated village in the metro with over 21,000 total residents, hopes to inoculate over 1,000 senior citizens and PWDs in its micro vaccination site at Marian Hall of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Parish.

Calumpang’s village chief Roberto Niño Jr. said the barangay-based vaccination site was successful as it was more convenient and accessible to residents.

“Wala gid problema sa acceptance sang mga tawo. In fact, it’s much more convenient sa aton nga mga pumuluyo ilabi na mga seniors indi na nila need magpila malakat-lakat na lang sila pagwa sa ila balay,” Niño said in a previous media interview.

The barangay-based vaccination in Calumpang was the first micro site after the city opened six mega-vax centers at the Central Philippine University, Iloilo Convention Center, University of San Agustin, Ateneo De Iloilo, University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV), and Iloilo National High School.

As of July 9, close to 100,000 Ilonggos received their first dose of Covid-19 vaccines.

Based on data from the Iloilo Vax Tech Team, 99,090 received their first dose while 17,020 received their second Covid-19 jab.

The vaccinated population is 3.78% of the target inoculated persons to achieve herd immunity.

Based on the 2020 census of population by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Iloilo City is home to 457,626. Herd immunity is achieved if 70 percent of the population is fully inoculated, which is 320,338 in the case of the city. (ERS)