Photo: A member of the Local Emergency Response Team receives the AstraZeneca vaccine.
The Municipality of Salcedo vaccinated another batch of the prioritized group against COVID-19 earlier today.
The vaccination, facilitated at the ESSU-Salcedo campus, was the first local vaccination not held in a hospital facility in the municipality.
The Rural Health Unit (RHU) of Salcedo implemented the whole process and was able to vaccinate 50 persons comprising mostly of members from the Salcedo Disaster and Emergency Response Team (SDERT).
Some Barangay Health Workers were also vaccinated who acted as the quick substitututes in case of deferral or refusal from the SDERT members
The vaccines, composed of Aztra Zeneca doses, were among those delivered from the COVAX facility and were rolled out for the prioritized groups.
The first batch to be locally vaccinated was the staff from the RHU-Salcedo then followed today by the member of SDERT; the next target vaccinees will be the Barangay Health Workers.
The vaccination was also attended by Dra. Jean Marie Egargo from the Provincial Health Office.
Concerns regarding refusal
Dra. Socorro Campo, the Municipal Health Officer, raised the concern regarding front liners refusing to be vaccinated.
“I was disturbed by the fact that there were SDERT [members] who did not want to be vaccinated,” said Dra. Campo. “They have a high risk of exposure; and refusing would be unfair to those who are eager to be vaccinated but are not among the prioritized groups.”
Some SDERTS who were originally unwilling to be vaccinated changed their minds moments before the vaccination was conducted today.
Dra. Campo also emphasized that the only clear solution to the pandemic is through vaccination and that the local government employees regardless of position should lead in such advocacy.
“It is hard to convince the rest of the population if we in the government have doubts regarding the vaccines,” said Dra. Campo.
The leading cause of doubts against COVID-19 vaccines remains to be the issue regarding their safety.
“The vaccine is safe, we [the staff from the RHU] are the living proofs,” said Dra. Campo. “Everyone can see that we are fine.”
Vaccination Procedure
The vaccination process was undertaken in five steps: 1) Registration; 2) Counseling; 3) Screening and final consent; 4) Vaccination and; 5) Post-vaccination monitoring.
The Registration Step serves as the verification process if the potential vaccinee is among the eligible targets scheduled for the day.
The Counselling Step involves addressing the remaining doubts of the vaccinee regarding the vaccination.
The Screening and Final Consent Step involves the final assessment of the vaccinee and his/her permission prior the actual vaccination.
The final step involves observing the vaccinee within 15 to 30 minutes for any immediate adverse reaction.
Each vaccinee was given a vaccination card which serves as proof of being vaccinated against COVID-19.
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