ILOILO City – The city government kicked off yesterday its drive-thru vaccination scheme for people fully vaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) seeking to avail themselves of booster shots.
The “boosting” was visibly faster, according to Jeck Conlu, spokesperson of the Iloilo City COVID Team.
There were two drive-thru sites – SM Strata and Megaworld Transport Hub, both in Mandurriao district.
“Even taxis and tricycles dropped by the sites for their passengers to get COVID-19 booster shots,” said Conlu.
The city government targets to “boost” 300 individuals each day via the drive-thru vaccination scheme.
The service roads going to the drive-thru sites became quite congested but other than that, the scheme had not encountered any other problems on its first day, said Conlu.
There will be a review of the drive-thru vaccination scheme after a week. It’s possible that the drive-thrus may also administer second doses, said Conlu.
“But for now, only booster shots. Hopefully, we can add more sites for our drive-thru,” he said.
The SM Strata drive-thru offers Pfizer booster shots for city residents, and those working and vaccinated in Iloilo City.
The Megaworld Transport Hub, on the other hand, has Moderna and is open to the public, whether or not they are residents of the city.
The city government’s other mega vaccination sites, meanwhile, continue to welcome people wanting to be vaccinated. These are at SM City Iloilo Southpoint, Robinsons Place-Jaro, Megaworld Transport Hub, and district health centers.
The city government rolled out its drive-through vaccination scheme ahead of the launching soon of the pharmacy-based vaccination here by the Department of Health (DOH).
Secretary Francisco Duque will be coming over to lead the rollout, according to Mayor Jerry Treñas but he did not give a specific date.
The national government calls this campaign “Resbakuna sa Botika” to make COVID-19 vaccination more accessible to people. The program was launched in Metro Manila on Jan. 20.
It remains unclear which pharmacies in this city will be enlisted for the campaign. But in a radio interview, Treñas said he gathered that one was mall-based.
In Metro Mainla, major pharmacies participating in the “Resbakuna sa Botika” include The Generics Pharmacy, Generika Drugstore, Healthway Clinic, Mercury Drug, Watsons, QualiMed, and Southstar Drug.
Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. of the National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 said this scheme also addresses the problem on the lack of vaccinators in government vaccination centers.
Presidential Adviser for COVID-19 Response Vivencio Dizon clarified, however, that only booster shots will be given in the participating pharmacies in the “Resbakuna sa Botika”.
Pharmacists of partner drugstores will be administering the booster shots./PN
