March 29, 2024

National Covid-19 Program implementer Vince Dizon lauded the collaborative leadership between Rep. Marquez Go, Mayor Benjamin Magalong, and city and health officials in the fight against Covid-19.
This is with the help from the Department of Health, Department of Tourism, Department of the Interior and Local Government and other national offices.     
Dizon made the pronouncement during the launching program of the Bakuna sa Botika in one of the malls in Baguio, last Jan. 26.
Despite having the highest number of cases in the region, the city’s fight against the virus has endured, even with the surge and emergence of new variants, Dizon said.
The city’s aggressive vaccination program with more than 100 percent achievement proved to be a major difference, he said.
Dizon added vaccination rate in the Cordillera is at 80 percent.
“Sana tuluy-tuloy at tumaas pa ang vaccination rate in the coming weeks.”
For the Baguio General and Medical Center, hospital chief Ricardo Ruñez said patients infected with the Omicron variant are asymptomatic or manifest mild symptoms, thus are monitored in isolation or quarantine facilities or in home-stay programs. Those unvaccinated, however, are in severe or critical condition in the hospital, Ruñez reported.       
The Bakuna sa Botika is an innovative move for booster shots to be administered, Dizon said.
“It’s a way forward. Very accessible at mas maluwag ang bakunahan sa mga pharmacy,” he added.
He appreciated efforts to convince the unvaccinated as hesitancy dropped from 36 percent in March 2021 to eight percent now, according to the latest Social Weather Station survey.
The cooperation of the citizenry in following the minimum public health standards was also noted.    
Dizon, together with DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III, DOT Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat, was in Baguio for the twin launch programs of the Bakuna sa Botika and drive-through programs. – Julie G. Fianza