Tagbilaran City, the major economic hub in the Province of Bohol, has taken on the unprecedented task of inoculating more than half of its population, in an ambitious effort to reach herd immunity as soon as possible.
City Mayor John Geesnell Yap II is focused on mitigating the impact of the Coronavirus disease (Covid) through the implementation of health protocol and vaccination.
“We do not know when this pandemic will end, but we cannot afford to sit down and do nothing. We will meet this challenge proactively by exhausting all means to stop the spread of infection. I encouraged everyone to get yourself vaccinated and be a part of the solution,” Mayor Yap said.
Tagbilaran’s fight against Covid has always been a priority since the pandemic.
The vaccines for Covid are made available through the coordinated efforts of the City Government and the Provincial Government led by Gov. Arthur Yap with the assistance coming from the Department of Health (DOH).
To date, the Tagbilaran City Health Office (CHO) already increased the number of its vaccination sites and accommodated walk-ins for certain priority groups.
According to CHO’s Public Information Officer, City health nurse Robin Culpa, as of July 28, 2021, a total of 13,605 persons have been vaccinated in the city.
Based on the CHO record, the breakdown of persons who are already vaccinated is as follows: A1- 5,254 frontliners, A2- 4,496 senior citizens, A3- 3,642 people with co-morbidities, and A5-213 indigents.
City Health Officer Dr. Jeia Pondoc in an interview explained the concept of herd immunity.
“Herd immunity, also called community immunity, occurs when a sufficient portion of a population is immune to a specific disease, thereby protecting individuals who have not developed immunity. The greater the proportion of a population that is immune or less susceptible to a disease, the lower the probability that a susceptible person will come in contact with an infectious person. If a sufficient number of people (herd) are immune, the infection will no longer circulate.”
Currently, Tagbilaran City has five vaccination centers and they are Bool Elementary School for barangays Bool, Mansasa and Poblacion 1; Tagbilaran City Elementary School for barangays Poblacion 2 and Poblacion 3; Dao Elementary School for barangays Dao, Tiptip, San Isidro and Cabawan; Booy Covered Court for barangay Booy, Taloto, Ubujan and Manga; and at Tagbilaran City College for barangays Dampas and Cogon.
Moreover, the city already expanded the vaccination drive to the essential economic workers or those belonging to priority group A4 such as tricycle drivers, multicab drivers, security guards, delivery riders, bankers, market vendors, hospital workers, pharmacy workers, and caregivers.
Also included in the A4 category are persons working in hotels and restaurants, national government agencies, carenderias, hospitals, pharmacies, dialysis centers, convenient stores, funeral and embalming, telecommunications, bakeries, money transfers, pawnshops, dental clinics, and gasoline stations.
Health and safety protocol are strictly observed at the vaccination sites, the City Media Bureau reports.
Mayor Yap thanked the hardworking members of the vaccination team, the volunteers and health marshals who facilitated the traffic in the area.
The public is reminded to stay updated with the City Government’s official announcements.