40% of Baguio residents vaccinated

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Around 40 percent of the eligible population in this city have been vaccinated against COVID-19.

A report of the Department of Health (DOH) showed that 95,020 residents either received their first dose or were fully vaccinated as of June 30.

The report was confirmed by city health services officer Khecy Manuel-Colas and risk communication management officer Cecile Agpawa as supervised by city health office head Rowena Galpo.

The city has five mega vaccination sites – University of Baguio gymnasium, St. Louis University gymnasium, St. Louis Center high school department at St. Vincent, SM parking area and Baguio Country Club. More sites will be opened subject to availability of health workers and volunteers.

Of the 19,691 registered health workers, 17,272 (87.72 percent) received their first dose while 12,434 (71.9 percent) were fully vaccinated.

At least 19,955 or 66.86 percent of the 29,845 registered senior citizens received their first dose while 7,926 (39.72 percent) got their second dose.

Among members of the A3 category or those with comorbidities, 25,188 (106.92 percent) got their first dose while 4,800 or 19.06 percent were fully vaccinated.

Of the 20,536 essential workers who registered for vaccination, 6,390 received their first dose.

At least 600 members of the indigent population have received their first dose.

Meanwhile, newly installed Baguio City police director Col. Glenn Lonogan ordered strict border controls amid reports that some visitors without QR codes or those who did not undergo triage managed to enter the city.

Lonogan said he would deploy more personnel to man checkpoints.

Clark vaccination hub

As this developed, the Luzon International Premier Airport Development (LIPAD), the operator and manager of Clark International Airport, is pushing through with plans to repurpose the gateway’s old terminal as a vaccination hub.

LIPAD signed cooperation contracts with four private medical groups to utilize the old airport terminal as a vaccination hub.

The Our Lady of Mount Carmel Medical Center, Philippine Airport Diagnostic Laboratory, PRI Medical Center and Medical City Clark agreed to provide services to ensure that medical professionals will be present to administer the vaccines and handle other issues, such as medical waste disposal.