Iloilo City offers COVID jab to Panay Island folk

ILOILO CITY — Iloilo City has opened its COVID-19 vaccination to families of city residents and workers who live elsewhere on Panay Island and are willing to come here to get immunized against the coronavirus disease.

Mayor Jerry Treñas said the city has more than enough vaccines for city residents and should be shared with those in other provinces on the island to fast-track the protection of residents of other localities in Panay.

“Compassion for others will not stop. Iloilo City is blessed to have more than enough vaccines to protect our people, and it is better to share these blessings with our fellow human beings,” Treñas said in a statement on Thursday.

He said vaccination for city residents was also being intensified through nine district health centers to bring the vaccination closer to communities.

Inoculation is also being done in at least three centers in shopping malls and Iloilo Convention Center, and in barangay-based rollouts.

On October 22, the city government, in partnership with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, and Ceres Bus Liner, will provide free rides for those coming from the provinces of Iloilo, Antique, Aklan, and Capiz who want to be vaccinated in the main vaccination sites at SM City and Robinsons-Jaro (AstraZeneca), and at Megaworld’s Iloilo Business Park (Sinovac).

“In times of crisis, let us make sure that no one is left behind,” Treñas said.

The city is targeting to inoculate 525,000 residents and those working in the city, with 337,352, or 64.26 percent, having received the first dose while 292,324, or 56.06 percent, were fully vaccinated as of October 16.

The COVID-19 cases in the city have also steadily dropped, from an average of 151 cases per day in September to 47 cases per day this month.

Ceres buses with “Libre sakay (Free ride)” signs will service those who want to get vaccinated to and from SM City and Robinsons-Jaro, and Megaworld Transport Hub.

The city government has also started registering residents 12 to 17 years old in preparation for the nationwide inoculation of minors. —NESTOR P. BURGOS JR.