By Edwin Fernandez/PNA
COTABATO CITY – Health authorities here have started the inoculation of some 21,0000 senior citizens here, including 102 pilgrims bound for Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
City Health Office (CHO) chief Dr. Meyasser Patadon said Thursday (April 22) the vaccination rollout for the elderly will run until Sunday.
“We have ample Sinovac vaccines for our senior residents courtesy of the national government,” he said.
Aside from the city’s vaccination hub situated at the CHO compound, Covid-19 inoculation will also be conducted at the gymnasiums of seven of the city’s public schools.
“This is to maintain minimum health protocols, including social distancing,” Patadon said.
Among those who lined up for the vaccination was Emergancia Diaz, 85, who was in a wheelchair. She survived Covid-19 after testing positive for the disease last year.
Her husband Quintin, 86, had shown symptoms of the disease and also survived.
“We are so happy that we now have protection against Covid-19,” she said.
The couple was among the recipients included in the A2 priority list of the population group in the city.
Meanwhile, Danilo Roldan, 70, said he wants to get vaccinated to have peace of mind.
“I’m not getting any younger, I have comorbidities, so I grab this offer from the government,” he said. “I feel good now.”
As for the Mecca-bound pilgrims, Patadon said the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos has required all pilgrims from the Philippines to undergo vaccination before joining the annual Hajj.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said only “immunized people” will be granted permits to perform Umrah as well as prayers in the Grand Mosque in Mecca. (PNA) -jlo
