Moreno tells health execs: Ask for add’l vaccines from Galvez

WITH a 10-day closure of churches in the city and a recent increase of more than 20 daily Covid-19 cases, Mayor Oscar Moreno said they should ask for more vaccines from vaccine czar Carlito Galvez.

“Let’s communicate directly to Secretary Galvez if the regional DOH (Department of Health) is hesitant (on following up our request for more vaccines). I’ll sign the letter telling him that we can vaccinate at least 1,000 persons daily. So if they have any vaccines, let’s show them that we can handle them so we earn their trust. Because the city receives so little from the DOH and we cannot be contented with that,” Moreno said during Tuesday noon’s City Hall press briefing.

Moreno said this as he confirmed receiving a text message from Msgr. Rey Monsanto, parish priest of the Camaman-an Church, informing him that Archbishop Jose Cabantan ordered the 10-day closure of the Jesus Nazareno Church and the San Isidro Church in Barangay Gusa and three other churches in Misamis Oriental province. About six priests reportedly tested positive for Covid-19.

“I want to fast-track the vaccination because more are at risk of exposure by reason of their profession, vocation, and activities. The priests are exposed daily to the people, listening to their confession (and interacting with them)….the people expect us to fast-track their vaccination..we need to show the DOH that we have so many vaccination personnel and venues, that we can vaccinate at least 1,000,” Moreno told acting City Health Officer Dr. Lorraine Nery during the briefing.

City Health Office (CHO) resident epidemiologist Dr. Teodulfo Joselito Retuya said the city showed that it can handle 1,000 vaccinations daily since last month’s start of the country’s vaccination program.

“If (for example) the DOH gives us 20,000 vaccines, then we can do that (vaccinate 1,000 daily) but if they give us 5,000 we can consume that only in a matter of days,” he said.

As of April 22, about 4,916 city-based health care frontliners received their second dose of CoronaVac vaccine or about 97.15 percent while 4,180 health care frontliners received their first dose of CoronaVac vaccine as of Apr. 23. City Hall listed 10,500 health care and non-healthcare frontliners for vaccination at the DOH-10. Already, City Hall is heavily promoting the pre-registration of seniors for vaccination.

Still, Moreno insisted that City Hall should aggressively lobby for more vaccines from DOH in order to fast-track the city’s vaccination.

“We cannot be contented with 500 doses di ta malahutay ana. Let’s also bring our case to the regional DOH office so they bring our case to their central office,” Moreno said. (Stephen Capillas of City Information Office)