Rama wants more details on vaccines for Cebu City

CEBU, Philippines —  Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama has invited the Emergency Operations Center officials to appear before the City Council to present the COVID-19 vaccination plan for the city.

In his privilege speech on Wednesday, Rama described the vaccination as a “matter crucial to our future.”

Rama, who chairs the City Council’s Committee on Health, added that the council’s COVID-19 Task Force will also help come up with the necessary recommendations for the effective and efficient delivery of the vaccines for the constituents.

The national government earlier announced that it aims to vaccinate 60 to 70 million Filipinos in three to five years.

Rama said that is “seeing the light at the end of the tunnel”, but “we are yet to be illuminated.”

"Kanus-a jud kaha mga ma-available ning vaccine? Kanus-a kaha ang schedule saiyang arrival niining vaccine? Gali ang pangutana, unsa man ning vaccine-na? Asa man ni gikan? Unsa man ning brand? Ug kinsa may unang makadawat?" asked Rama.

“Unsaon pag-distribute sa vaccine? Unsa may infrastructure (that) is needed for the distribution? What is our schedule, likewise, contingencies, management, and adjustment just in case? Who has oversight? What is the chain of responsibility and accountability?” he further asked.

Rama stressed the city has to be ready and proactive with regard the vaccination plan.

“We have to make sure this vaccine addresses the need,” he said.

To recall, Mayor Edgardo Labella disclosed that the city will be among the priority areas in the distribution of COVID-19 vaccine in the country.

Labella said he received the news during a phone conversation with vaccine czar, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr.

The mayor said they are yet to determine the number of vaccines the city will receive, but assured that the city government will augment whatever the national government will give.

“Ang atong Annual Investment Plan, nakapa-approve man ta og P500 million for the purchase of the vaccine. Wa lang sa nato ibutang sa atong 2021 annual budget kay wa man ta kasiguro kung kanus-a ma-approve or kanus-a madiscover gyud ang vaccine,” Labella earlier said.

“Karon kay nadiscover naman ang vaccine, ang ato nalang huwaton, as advised by Sec. Galvez, nga unsay mga guidelines unya,” he added.

Church won’t endorse

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma also expressed elation over developments that vaccines have already been developed against COVID-19.

“We have prayed for vaccines to come. Anything that promotes health should be appreciated,” said Palma. “We are happy that vaccines have come out for the wellbeing of the people.”

Palma said he has been checking on the latest updates on the vaccines, but leaves it to the proper health authorities to decide which of them will be purchased. He said the Church will not endorse any brand.

Palma, however, said: “We should be extra careful as to which ones would really contribute to the health…the ones with less side effects.”

Aside from ensuring that the vaccines are effective, the prelate also reminded the authorities that the cost of the vaccine should also be considered.

Post-vaccination

Meanwhile, Senator Risa Hontiveros called on the government to begin creating a post-vaccination COVID-19 response plan.

Hontiveros, in a statement, said that vaccination is not “the magic bullet” to putting an end to the pandemic and, thus, sustainable strategies for safely co-existing with COVID-19 must be created with the rollout of vaccination.

She said that after the vaccination of the indigent groups, it is important to begin securing and allocating funds for mass vaccination.

She said that the country can only achieve herd immunity if 60-70% of the population gets vaccinated.

“Ito ang pinakamalaking vaccination program in the history of our country. If we don’t do it right, we'll waste billions of pesos and risk millions of lives,” she said.

She further said that the vaccine is a health solution, not a political favor and that the government should buy vaccines to protect the people from COVID-19, not advance anyone’s political agenda. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon and Caecent No-ot Magsumbol with Rowena D. Capistrano, JMD (FREEMAN)