Pampanga capital opens 2nd COVID-19 vaccine site at regional hospital

Elderly residents of the City of San Fernando, the capital of Pampanga province, wait for their turn at the COVID-19 vaccination area of the Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital. (Photo from the City of San Fernando information office)

MABALACAT CITY, Pampanga –– The Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital (JBLMRH) started accommodating Tuesday elderly residents of the City of San Fernando for vaccination against COVID-19.

San Fernando’s information office quoted National Immunization Program manager Dr. Iris Muñoz as saying that the regional hospital management offered to serve as the capital city’s second vaccination site.

The JBLMRH is expected to cater to some 1,000 older people in two days. The other vaccination site is at the city government’s Heroes Hall compound.

San Fernando will also open its third vaccination site Saturday, July 5, at the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Medical Center along MacArthur Highway in Barangay Saguin, which is more accessible to the city’s northern villagers.

Muñoz said the new sites would enable the city government to inoculate more people against COVID-19, though the vaccines from the Department of Health were limited.

Earlier, Dr. Carlos Mercado, San Fernando city health officer, told the Inquirer that they could vaccinate more residents if they get more vaccines from the DOH.

The San Fernando health office has advised the elderly to be at the vaccination sites on their scheduled date and time to avoid delays and overcrowding.

LZB