250 tourism workers in Subic Freeport fully vaccinated vs COVID-19

A worker inside the Subic Bay Freeport, who belongs to the A4 category (essential workers), gets inoculated against COVID-19. (Photo courtesy of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority)

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — At least 250 workers in hotels and accommodation facilities inside this free port have received their complete dose of the vaccine against COVID-19, officials said Tuesday.

In a statement, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) said the vaccine recipients belong to the A4 category (essential workers) of the priority list.

They received the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine made by China’s Sinovac Biotech during the mass inoculation here on Monday.

Wilma Eisma, SBMA chair and administrator, said they received 2,500 doses of the Sinovac vaccine from the office of the Department of Health in Region 3.

This was followed by 5,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine donated by International Container Terminal Services Inc., which operates the container port in Subic. These will benefit the free port’s A4 workers.

“We’re exhausting all possible sources of vaccines from both the government and the private sectors so that we can hasten the vaccination of Subic workers and residents. I have even reached out to my personal contacts in the medical industry and, so far, these efforts have turned out fine,” Eisma said.