COVID-19 vaccination drive for economic frontliners launched in Subic Freeport

Workers of Japanese firm Nidec Subic Philippines Corp. and company president Kiyoshi Sato receive their first dose of vaccine against COVID-19 during the launch of the government’s A4 vaccination program on Tuesday at the Subic Bay Freeport. (Photo courtesy of Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority)

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — The national government on Tuesday (July 27) formally began its mass COVID-19 vaccination drive for economic frontliners (category A4) during a ceremonial launch here, officials said.

Five workers at the Japanese firm Nidec Subic Philippines Corp. were the first to get the initial shot of COVID-19 vaccine, said Wilma Eisma, chair and administrator of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA). Nidec manufactures electronic equipment, spindle motors, and digital core parts for multimedia.

Eisma said the vaccine drive targets other registered business locators here “to help bring about Subic’s economic revival.”

“This undertaking is very important because the workers are the backbone of the economy and it is important that we maintain their well-being and safety at all times,” Esima said in a statement.

The ceremonial vaccination was facilitated by the SBMA, Department of Health (DOH), National Task Force Against Covid-19 (NTF), and Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).

Secretary Vince Dizon, deputy chief implementer of the National Action Plan Against COVID-19, led the ceremony along with DOH Undersecretary Roger Tong-an and presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.

Nidec President Kiyoshi Sato, the firm’s general manager Marissa Tamayo, and Carol Adamos, Dexter Saludez, and Ruel Fernandez, all workers at the manufacturing company, were among the first to be vaccinated.

Eisma said 300 doses of the Sinovac vaccine arrived here on Tuesday for the initial inoculation drive for economic frontliners.