During the recent regular session of the Fourteenth Sangguniang Panlungsod led by Hon. Vice Mayor Jose Antonio S. Veloso, City Health Officer Dr. Jeia Pondoc explained that the vaccines coming from the National Government may arrive this March, and those purchased by the City Government of Tagbilaran will arrive by July of this year. It was reported that vaccines Sinovac and AstraZeneca need to be stored at a temperature of 2-8 degrees Celsius, while vaccines from Pfizer need to be stored at -70 degrees Celsius. Thus, it is more logistically possible for the government to procure Sinovac and AstraZeneca. The national government may start distributing Sinovac vaccines by March of this year. Furthermore, Tagbilaran City has appropriated a 15-million budget to purchase AstraZeneca vaccines. The budget will be able to procure 24,590 doses. Healthcare workers and frontliners, and senior citizens are given priority. The vaccination will be done at the covered courts of every barangay in the city. After vaccination, the recipients are required to stay at the venue for an hour for observation before being allowed to go home, as per instructions from the Department of Health. Prior to that, there will be massive information campaigns to explain the significant benefits that can be derived from the vaccines. Dr. Pondoc reiterated that the vaccination is only voluntary. No one is forced to undergo the process.
