Five towns in the province of Iloilo will conduct COVID-19 vaccination simulation exercises in preparation for the arrival of vaccines for the viral disease.
These towns are Oton in the First District (Feb. 19) Zarraga in the Second District (Feb. 22), Badiangan in the Third District (Feb. 23), Dueñas in the Fourth District on (Feb. 24), Concepcion in the Fifth District (Feb. 25).
Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. said the simulation exercises aim to ensure the smooth implementation of the provincial government’s vaccination plan.
On Feb. 4, Defensor Jr. signed Executive Order No. 036, series of 2021, adopting
COVID-19 Vaccine Deployment and Immunization Plan 2021-2022 (COVAC PLAN 21-22).
“The province has prepared its COVAC Plan 21-22 for the purpose of ensuring that all eligible citizens of the province will have free, effective, safe, and high-quality vaccines against Covid-19,” the EO read.
Iloilo is the first local government unit in Western Visayas to secure approval from the Department of Health (DOH) for its vaccine plan against COVID-19.
The 51-page plan has nine components which include planning and coordination; financing and funding mechanisms; identification of eligible population; vaccination program and delivery strategies; cold chain, supply, and health care waste management; human resource management and training; acceptance and uptake; vaccine immunization safety monitoring, Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI) and Adverse Event of Special Interest (AESI); and post-marketing surveillance, and management and pharmacovigilance; and immunization, registration, monitoring and data management system.
The provincial government signed an agreement with AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals Philippines on Jan. 10 for the advance purchase of COVID-19 vaccines amounting to US$1,350,000 or P95 million.IMT
