The COVID-19 vaccination has started at the Dr. Jose Rodriguez Memorial Hospital or Tala Hospital in Caloocan City on Monday, with its chief Dr. Alfonso Victorino Famaran Jr. receiving the first shot.
National Task Force against COVID-19 Deputy Chief Implementer Vince Dizon was also inoculated at the hospital which began its administration of vaccines at 9:50 A.M.
No major side effects were recorded from the 85 total individuals inoculated with the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine. Among the reactions were hypertension, headache, and allergic reaction which were immediately addressed.
After the medical center chief’s inoculation, 80 other hospital staff followed suit, including a security guard.
Samuel Sumilang, head nurse of the hospital, said the vaccination went smoothly.
“’Yung other vaccines po kasi talagang masakit, ngayon kasi wala kang nararamdaman mabigat (Other vaccines are really painful, but you won’t feel anything heavy with this),” Sumilang said.
A reefer van carrying 600 vials of Sinovac vaccines arrived at the hospital at 12:44 a.m. A total of 200 vials were transferred from the refrigerator to carriers at 8:30 A.M. More than 200 vials of the COVID-19 vaccine are still not utilized.
The hospital is ready to transfer the rest of the vaccines to other individuals in the quick substitute list in a weeks’ time.
Almost 2,000 healthcare workers of the hospital are still awaiting their vaccines, with most of them choosing Pfizer and AstraZeneca. Officials have reiterated that vaccination and vaccine preference are up to the workers.
Tala will continue monitoring the vaccinated individuals for a year and will assume the cost of hospitalization in case of severe side effects. – Report from Naomi Tiburcio
