BY MAE SINGUAY AND DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Vaccines against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in this city are all free, according to the Emergency Operations Center (EOC).
Several residents complained they were paying to get inoculated.
“The city government does not charge anyone for vaccinations,” clarified Em Ang, city administrator.
She explained that the EOC was “in no way connected” to those alleged runners or traders of anti-coronavirus shots.
Ang added that the EOC had not authorized anyone to collect any fee for the vaccine.
“Be wary of these unscrupulous people trying to take advantage of the situation,” Ang stressed.
The EOC tightened their monitoring of vaccination sites here.
Meanwhile, to effectively control the crowd and maintain proper distancing at vaccination sites, Ang noted that walk-ins are being discouraged.
“If you haven’t yet, please register now at tinyurl.com/bcdceironline and wait to be notified of your schedule,” she said.
As of July 6, EOC’s record showed that the city have so far vaccinated 71,972 Bacolod residents – 59,945 receiving the first dose and 12,027 getting their second dose.
VAX FOR A4 AND A5?
Ang also confirmed that they have already received permission from the national government to start vaccinating those under the A4 (economic frontline workers) and A5 (indigent residents) categories in the city.
However, Ang said this will depend on the availability of the vaccines.
She also pointed out that those under A1 (healthcare workers), A2 (senior citizens), and A3 (persons with comorbidities) categories will remain a priority.
Bacolod City recorded 97 new cases yesterday, bringing its total active cases to 1,440./PN
