City commends 4 mega vaccination sites, isolation center

The city government commended the administrators of the four mega vaccination sites and an isolation facility used by the city in the conduct of the government’s vaccination program against the dreaded Coronavirus Disease (COVID) 2019 and the quarantine and isolation of patients over the past two years.

The 4 mega vaccination sites issued their respective certificates of commendation from the city were the University of Baguio (UB) for the use of its gymnasium, the Saint Louis University (SLU) for the use of the Bishop Carlito Z. Cenzon Sports Center, the SM City Baguio for the use of its Basement Parking 2 and its Sunset Terraces, the Baguio Country Club (BCC) for the use of its Cordillera Convention Hall and the Baguio Teachers Camp for the use of 9 of its existing hall as quarantine and isolation facilities.

Assistant City Health Officer Dr. Celiaflor Brillantes disclosed that the operation of the mega vaccination sites paved the way for the city to have more than 100 percent first dose among the targeted adult population, 99 percent second dose, 39 percent with booster shots and more than 89 percent among the ages 12 to 17 pediatric population.

The UB gymnasium was the city’s first mega vaccination site for the vaccination of the target adult population and health workers starting operation March 11, 2021 but had to close on March 31, 2022 to give way for the resumption of limited face-to-face classes in the higher education institution.

The city’s second mega vaccination site was the SLU gymnasium that opened on March 22, 2021 but had to close on March 17, 2022, again for the resumption of face-to-face classes in the institution which gave booster shots to all of its employees and the vaccination of individuals aged 5 to 11.

Initially, the SM City Baguio mega vaccination site was located at the Basement Level 2 from May 11, 2021 to March 15, 2022 then transferred to the Sunset Terraces starting March 19, 2022 and still serving as such.

The BCC mega vaccination site started on June 12, 2021 and the BCC management continues to offer the use of its Cordillera Convention Hall for the vaccination requirements of both residents and tourists alike.

The city also honored the Baguio Teachers Camp, one of the major isolation centers in the city, which opened on April 20, 2020 starting with the use of the Roxas Hall for the quarantine and isolation requirements of returning Overseas Filipinos (ROFs) but later accommodated the COVID-19 cases starting September 21, 2020.

Further, the Baguio Teachers Camp also opened the Hernandez Hall and the Superintendent’s quarters and later opened the Quirino Hall and Staff House for these COVID-19 needs

However, the triage and isolation of the ROFs, in partnership with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), transferred from the Roxas Hall to the Benitez Hall, and later to the Magsaysay Hall.

Brillantes claimed that additional halls, including the Escoda and Romulo halls, were opened by the Baguio Teachers Camp administration to accommodate the increasing COVID-19 cases during the surges in the Delta and Omicron variants. – Dexter A. See