CHO MedTech curbs vaccine misperceptions
A staff from the City Government of Bacoor checks the blood pressure of a Senior Citizen before giving the vaccine shot. This is in line with Bacoor City’s vaccination program.
Photo by Luigi Lim, City Government of Bacoor website
Caption by Jun Vince Dizon
Protecting Bacooreños from experiencing severe illnesses in case of infection, Bacoor City Health Office (CHO) in partnership with the Department of Health kicked off its #BacoorYesSaBakuna COVID-19 vaccination program last March 2021 on top of its bid to control the COVID-19 case count in the city.
Maria Cecila Tobias, Medical Technologist 2 of the CHO, explained in an online interview that their efforts in the vaccination program are to help reduce the symptoms the people may feel in case they contract COVID, giving them lesser need to be admitted in already capacitated local hospitals.
“As of now parang alam ko nasa 10,000 na yung nabakunahan, kaso ubos na kasi yung vaccines eh. Pero pag may dumating ngayon, balik na naman tayo [sa operasyon],” Maria Cecila Tobias, Medical Technologist 2 of the City Health Office (CHO) assured.
Tobias added that Bacoor City has now nine vaccination sites from previously having only four. These sites are Perpetual Help College, Queensrow Elementary School, Bacoor City Coliseum, Aniban Central School, San Nicolas Elementary School, Niog Elementary School, Alima Elementary School, City Hall Gymnasium, and a coliseum in Camella Homes-Molino.
Registration process
Meanwhile, in order to facilitate the registration for the COVID-19 vaccination, the city government of Bacoor launched the Ligtas Bacoor COVID-19 Vaccine Online Registration where people can register through an online portal.
“Meron tayong link and then from there, magfifill-up sila para maregistered sila directly to the city health office. Then, makikita nila yung mga pangalan nila. Then, at the time na turn na nila para sa vaccination, tinatawagan sila,” Tobias expounded.
On top of the vaccination program, Bacoor CHO is also planning to extend its reach by launching the mobile vaccination that aims to vaccinate bedridden Senior citizens who cannot travel directly to the site.
“Right now meron na tayong nine specific sites. May mga sasakyang pumupunta doon, kaso paano kung ang layo mo. So, tayo ngayon ang pupunta dun sa mga barangay na di kayang pumunta sa mga vaccination site,” Tobias said.
Encouraging the people
Tobias underscored that fear among the people was primarily the challenge they encountered throughout the vaccination rollout.
“Bale ang naging problem talaga dito is clear: natatakot yung mga tao na magpabakuna kasi iniisip nila na baka ito ang maging dahilan para mas lalo silang magkaroon ng virus at mas lumala sila,” she said.
To address the issue, the CHO conducted an orientation on February 2021 where they invited some Senior Citizens over to explain the importance of being vaccinated and to convince them to take the vaccine.
“Sa mga Bacooreño, try to get the vaccines. Para po na rin sa ating sarili ito para po maiwasan natin na lumala yung ating symptoms kung sakaling makuha natin yung virus. Hindi po sya magiging sanhi para magkaron tayo ng sakit kundi ito po ay makakatulong para malabanan natin yung virus na papasok sa katawan natin,” she advised.
Tobias added that their main platforms for encouraging the people to take the vaccine and register for the vaccination are the official Facebook page and website of the City Government of Bacoor where they publicize contents featuring the personal accounts and experiences of vaccinated local residents.
“Sinikap ko talagang magpabakuna para bukod sa may panglaban ako sa COVID-19, mapoprotektahan ko rin ang family ko,” Danilo Gayamo, a COVID-19 vaccine recipient from Panapaan I, shared in an interview.
Future plan: Mobile swabbing
A mobile swabbing, aimed at allowing early isolation among direct COVID-contact and infected individuals, is also underway.
“Dalawa na ang sasakyan namin para sa mobile swabbing. Kung sa isang specific area maraming cases, dun tayo pupunta. Kaya lang, ang pina-prioritize natin ay those na may symptoms at tsaka yung direct contact sila with the person infected para ma-isolate natin sila kaagad,” the CHO MedTech ended.
As of May 26, the COVID-19 case count in Cavite is at 64,556 as per DOH daily report, with Bacoor City making up around half of the total count.
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