Bakuna sa Botika, self-test stats out
Booster shots are administered at the Mercury Drug lower Session road branch for the adult population, except for senior citizens and those with comorbidities, from 8AM to 3PM during Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Another pharmacy store Watson’s is also due to resume giving booster shots once vaccinators are available, this was announced by City Health Services Office head Dr. Rowena Galpo during the management committee meeting last week.
Said pharmacy stores, both private entities, have gone out of their way to assist in the city’s vaccine program. Ceremonial vaccinations were done with national health authorities and regional business heads for the promotion of the vaccination program against Covid-19.
From Feb. 2 to 5, Mercury Drug has administered by 227 Astra Zeneca, and 94 Sinovac, for a total of 321 vaccines. As for Watson’s they have delivered 239 Astra Zeneca and 97 Sinovac; 336 vaccinees from Jan. 26 to Feb. 1.
During simple launching ceremonies, City Health Services office assistant head Dr. Celia Flor Brillantes lauded the partnership between the local government and private entities wherein innovations such as the Bakuna Botika in order to acquire herd immunity in the city.
The city is the first city outside of the National Capital Region to implement the Bakunahan sa Botika.
As for the antigen self-test, it was piloted in several health districts; Asin, Camp Central, Pacdal, Dontogan, Loakan-Apugan, Irisan, Bakakeng Central, Pinsao Proper on Jan. 24-28.
There were 175 test kits given out with 119 done onsite by health workers, 23 swabbed themselves, while 33 did not report back. Of the 142 swabs, 48 (33.8%) had positive results.
On Jan. 31 to Feb. 4, 99 antigen self-tests were bought at the same health districts; with 12 doing self-swab, 85 having their swab on site while 2 did not return their kits. Ten individuals had positive results from the 97 tests, thus a positivity rate of 10.3%.
On said data, Mayor Benjamin Magalong premised his observation that less self-tests were done thus, a resulting downtrend of Covid-19 cases. – Julie G. Fianza
