179 healthcare workers from Noveleta, Cavite were vaccinated at the Southern Tagalog Regional Hospital in Bacoor, Cavite today.
Personnel from private hospitals, as well as staff of the isolation facility and rural health unit of the town, came to receive their first dose of the vaccines.
According to Dr. Maria Hilda C. Buco, Municipal Health Officer of Noveleta, the government provided 150 doses from AstraZeneca and 29 doses from Sinovac for their vaccine rollout. Frontliners were given the option to choose their preferred brand of vaccine.
At the waiting area, they were given info leaflets and pamphlets about the vaccine of their choice and then registered with the VIMS-IR System of the Department of Health (DOH).
They were provided a vaccination card and consent form. A counseling area was in place to cater to their questions about the vaccine.
Before the dose of the vaccine was administered, they underwent physical assessment. After the injection, they were required to stay for an hour for post-vaccination monitoring of possible side effect and given a contact number in case adverse effects would manifest.
Dr. Buco expressed confidence in the vaccination program, citing that many healthcare workers from other towns and cities in the country have already been vaccinated. There are also scientific studies on the vaccines prior to their use.
“Maaaring may mga side effect. Walang vaccine na 100% safe but the benefits outweigh ‘yung mga side effects na iyon (There may be side effects. No vaccine is 100% safe but the benefits outweigh those side effects),” Buco explained.
More batches of anti-COVID vaccines are expected to arrive but no definite date has been given. Yesterday, other towns in Cavite started their vaccine rollout. In the municipality of Carmona, 305 healthcare workers received their first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine. – Bernard Jaudian
