Go Negosyo donates vaccines to seniors

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship or Go Negosyo donated COVID-19 vaccines to senior citizens who belong to overlooked senior communities in Metro Manila as it stressed the need to protect the elderly population.

In a statement, Go Negosyo said vaccinations were recently held for seniors residing in homes caring for the elderly as well as patients of geriatric clinics.

“They included senior citizens from a geriatric clinic in Taguig City and a nursing home in Quezon City,” Go Negosyo said, noting that the groups were tracked down with the help of retired Department of Health (DOH) undersecretary Madeleine Valera and former director Criselda Abesamis.

In addition, health care services company CIF Central Corp. coordinated with the LGUs for proper recording of these senior vaccinees. The group provided a full complement of health care workers, ancillaries and logistics.

“The elderly are among the most vulnerable to COVID, and these vaccines can help prevent them from becoming severely ill or dying from the disease,” said Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion as he stressed the need for them to get second booster shots as a safeguard against variants and waning immunity.

The vaccinations using Moderna vaccines were held last July 23 and 26, and for AstraZeneca, last July 29. The vaccines were purchased by the private sector through the tripartite agreement, A Dose of Hope (ADOH).

Go Negosyo said vaccinations were also held for workers and volunteers of Caritas Manila who were unable to get their booster shots because they have been busy attending to the needy.

The DOH expanded its recommendation for second booster shots for individuals 50 years and older and those aged 18 to 49 who have comorbidities in addition to health care workers and immunocompromised persons.

Aside from the COVID vaccines, Go Negosyo had previously donated RT-PCR testing machines to beneficiary hospitals and laboratories all over the country to give LGUs the tools to conduct their own COVID-19 tests. It also facilitated the installation of the machines and the training of local laboratory personnel in their proper use and maintenance.

Go Negosyo has been an active participant in pandemic response efforts since the outbreak caused massive lockdowns and economic losses beginning March 2020.

The non-profit organization led efforts to bring accessible testing innovations to the country under its Project ARK program, and pushed for vaccinations and facilitated the procurement of vaccines under ADOH. It also helped set up shared vaccination centers and facilitated public-private sector dialogue on issues concerning the pandemic.

LCP supports Pinas Lakas

The League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) vowed to support President Marcos’ goal to administer COVID-19 boosters to half of the general population within his first 100 days in office.

Officials and members of the league made the commitment during a meeting with Marcos last Tuesday.

“Now on booster shots for the healthy population, Mr. President, we stand by your directive that 50 percent of the general population should receive their first booster dose,” Quezon City Mayor and LCP executive vice-president Joy Belmonte was quoted by a Palace statement as saying.

“Likewise, we stand by your commitment to administer doses to at least 23 million people within the first 100 days of the Marcos administration,” she added.

The government recently launched the Pinas Lakas campaign, which seeks to provide COVID-19 boosters to 23.8 million persons within the first 100 days of Marcos in Malacañang. This booster rollout is in line with efforts to ensure the safe resumption of in-person classes and the reopening of the economy.

As of Aug. 3, only about 16.4 million Filipinos have received their booster dose, data from the health department showed. Officials have called on the public to get booster shots, citing the need to be protected against emerging and highly transmissible COVID-19 variants.

Belmonte said the league is grateful to the national government’s efforts to respond to the plea of local officials to give second boosters to more people, including healthy ones.

“We promised you that our cities will remain vigilant on the uptick of COVID-19 cases. And we also remain a committed partner of the Department of Health in achieving a COVID-free and healthy Pilipinas,” the mayor said.

Meanwhile, the DOH said that it was able to reach 11 percent of its target number of COVID-19 booster shots in the National Capital Region (NCR).

In a press briefing yesterday in Quezon City, DOH-NCR director Gloria Balboa said they have already administered booster shots to 77,566 eligible individuals, as of Aug. 3, which is 11.8 percent of the 658,112 targets for booster shots in the first 100 days of the Marcos administration.

“We know it is still low. But hopefully, since it is for 100 days or until Oct. 8, we can still reach that target,” she added. – Alexis Romero, Rhodina Villanueva