THE LOCAL government, through the Davao COVID-19 Task Force Vaccination Cluster, is opening more sites for the bakuna nights campaign to inoculate more working Davaoeños.
Dr. Michelle Schlosser, COVID-19 Task Force spokesperson, said on Wednesday, “Gusto gyud nato ma-achieve herd immunity as fast as we can. Isa sa mga proposal na gihatag sa atoang vaccination cluster is that they are going to open dili lang isa kundi several bakuna nights locations (We really want to achieve herd immunity. One of the proposals of the Vaccination Cluster is to open several bakuna nights locations). So we are looking into Abreeza Mall, Gaisano Mall, SM Lanang, ug Gaisano Mall Toril para ma cater na gyud ang dapat macater especially those dili makaadto during the day (to cater those who have not yet been vaccinated, especially those who cannot come during the day).”
She said the malls are more accessible for people who work during the day, not just in the city proper, making the new bakuna nights locations strategically located to cater to those from the southern and northern areas of the city.
“Para dili na gyud magpalayo o dili na mamasahe or magtake og so much time para mabakunahan lang (So they don’t have to go far or spend for fares or take them so much time just to be vaccinated). As much as possible we will cater to all corners of Davao City,” the city health official said.
Dr. Schlosser also said regular vaccination hubs will continue to operate during the daytime even if the bakuna nights will be expanded.
Volunteers and personnel from the City Health Office (CHO) and the Department of Health are ready to administer the bakuna nights. She said that the local and national private and public sectors in Davao City are working together to help the city achieve herd immunity before the year ends.
Dr. Schlosser said that as of October 9, Davao City has reached 66.08 percent herd immunity with a total of 792,932 first doses and 50 percent for 600,070-second doses. But she added that the number would have already increased as of Oct. 13.
She said the Davao COVID-19 Task Force heightened all measures to achieve herd immunity.
“Objectively, if we do everything, all measures na naka lineup na, I would want to believe na kaya nato ni i-achieve but ginahangyo gyud pud nato ang katawhan, logistically kaya nato sya, manpower kaya nato sya, kaya nato sya pero ginahangyo nato ang katawhan sa ilang kooperasyon because kung wala tay mga taong magpa vaccine maglisod ta og achieve sa 15,000 (we are appealing to the public, logistically we are capable, manpower we are capable, we really can but we are requesting the public for cooperation because if there are no people who will get vaccinated, we can never achieve the 15,000 vaccinees daily target),” Dr. Schlosser said.
She also said the city has a sufficient supply of vaccines and human resources to carry out the daily target. She added that the city continues to find ways to make vaccination convenient for Davaoeños through several vaccination sites, expanded bakuna nights, and the Sangguniang Panlungsod-led mobile vaccinations.
“Ginadala na gyud sa ilang tugkaran ang pagpa-vacine. All we need lang gyud is for people to take advantage of the opportunity nga naa na sa ilang atubangan (Vaccination is being brought right to their homes and people just need to take advantage of the opportunity given to them),” Dr. Schlosser said.
