Vaccinees flock to malls causing overcrowding

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Supply delays and miscues in the rollout or administration of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines led to vaccinees flocking shopping malls here, which disregarded safe distancing protocols amid the pandemic.

Long queues on the first floor of Ayala Malls Capitol Central were spotted as people entered the mall to line up for the vaccination that day.

Based on the advisory of the city government, walk-ins for the Johnson & Johnson vaccines were allowed, while only a maximum of 500 people could be accommodated for the second dose of AztraZeneca and Sinovac vaccines at the said mall.

Some people complained because it was not clear if all those lining up inside the mall could still be accommodated.

Police were deployed along with the mall security to remind people of the health protocols.

City Administrator Em Ang, executive director of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), said that she also received messages early that day about the overcrowding at SM City Bacolod.

Ang said that they tried to disperse the crowd, but they didn’t cooperate, although eight policemen and mall security, as well as marshals were already deployed for the dispersal.

“We tried to accommodate as many as possible, but indi na gid kaya, there’s so many people, as you can see long queues from the second floor to the third floor, where the vaccination was held at the SMX Convention Center,” Ang added.

Ang explained that they’re facing challenges because of the delayed arrival of additional Sinovac vaccines for the residents who were supposed to have their second doses of the said vaccine since last week.

“May one-week backlog, natingob sila, which also included those to be inoculated with second doses man sang Sinovac this week,” she said.

Ang said overcrowding at the mall could become a breeding ground for the virus.

To address this, Ang said they will have to temporarily stop accepting walk-ins starting July 27.

“Mabalik ta sa system na those who have schedule, amo lang gid na i-entertain,” she added.

The COVID-19 Vaccination Council (CoVaC) informed Bacolodnons on Monday afternoon that at 12 pm, the vaccination centers at Ayala Malls Capitol Central, Robinsons Place, and SMX Convention Center have reached the maximum number of vaccinees for the day.

The CoVaC urged the public to wait to be notified of their schedule through text by the Vaccination Team.

Vaccinees may also go to the barangay vaccination centers to avail of free COVID-19 vaccines.

Despite this, Ang said they are very thankful because the vaccine acceptance tremendously improved.

Ang said that the city has already inoculated 120,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines, as of July 25.

“This a good number, not a lot, but there’s interest and willingness from the people to be vaccinated. Bacolodnons are raring to be vaccinated,” she added.

In fact, Ang said that there’s a big drop in the number of COVID-19 deaths this month.

“It’s a big relief for the EOC, as records of death from various hospitals and home deaths showed a decrease of more than 50 percent.

Meanwhile, Ang said the city is planning to open two more vaccination centers at City Mall in Goldenfield Commercial Complex in Barangay Singcang-Airport, and in Barangay Mandalagan.

Ang said they are targeting to have it open for the vaccination on Wednesday, July 28, depending on the completion of their ocular inspection.

At present, the city has 30 vaccination centers.