Drive-through vaccination in Cebu City starts today

CEBU, Philippines —  Cebu City will launch today, September 4, 2021, its drive-through vaccination at the NOAH Complex at the South Road Properties (SRP) as part of its “hybrid” approach to attain herd immunity against COVID-19.

NOAH manager, Atty. Jocelyn Pesquera, said those classified under priority groups A2 and A3, as well as taxi drivers and food delivery drivers who have not received a single shot, will be prioritized today.

Residents of Cebu City are the priority, she said, but those from other local government units who are working in the city are also welcome.

"Taga city raman gyud na atong dawaton, pero duna t'ay exemption, atoa nga i-accomodate kun naka-base sa city ang ilang company," Pesquera said.

Interested individuals or groups must register with the city as the vaccination will be done by appointment and only on Saturdays as of this time.

Pesquera encouraged companies to set an appointment by group.

She assured that there is enough space at the NOAH Complex to drive through.

Last week, the City Council asked the city’s Vaccination Board to explore innovative means to roll the vaccination program out more efficiently, especially for the public transport sector or commuter transport. 

Councilor James Cuenco, chairman of the Council’s committee on transportation, said there is a need to prioritize the transportation sector because those who compose it are among the most mobile and can be considered frontliners in the continuing fight against COVID-19.

The Council also requested members of the city’s public transportation sector -- cooperatives and companies, public utility vehicle (PUV) operators, and transport organizations/associations -- to submit a list of bona fide PUV drivers, conductors, dispatchers, and employees to the Council’s transportation committee for data gathering for the drive-through vaccination.

Even with the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) status in Cebu City, public transportation continues to operate.

Another plan of the city is to establish pocket vaccination and cluster vaccination in barangays. It targets to open 21 vaccination centers to fast track its vaccination program.

It is set to open another site at a university next week.

Existing vaccination centers are located at the University of Cebu (UC) - Banilad Campus, Robinsons Galleria, SM Seaside City Cebu, UC Senior High School -Alcantara Campus, NOAH Complex, Ayala Center Cebu, Waterfront Cebu City Hotel, and SM City Cebu.

The city urged the public to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as it works on balancing health and livelihood of residents. – JMO (FREEMAN)