BI personnel receive COVID-19 vaccine
MABALACAT CITY --- Bureau of Immigration (BI) personnel started receiving their first dose of COVID19 vaccine.
BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said they are targeting to inoculate a total of 1,250 immigration personnel with the government-procured CoronaVac, the vaccine from Sinovac Biotech, that is administered in two doses in an interval of 28 days.
“We have scheduled vaccination of our eligible employees on a weekend so as not to hamper our daily operations,” Morente added.
Adhering to the priority list given by the InterAgency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), the BI started vaccination of its employees who are senior citizens and persons with co-morbidities.
“The continuous rise of COVID-19 cases accentuates the need to vaccinate our frontliners, especially those belonging in the most vulnerable group such as the seniors and persons with co-morbidities. We want to assure their safety from the threat of the deadly virus,” Morente said
Morente explained that a pre-screening will be conducted on the medical history of the officers to determine those who are eligible to receive the vaccine.
BI Deputy Commissioner and Chairperson of COVID-19 Taskforce Aldwin Alegre clarified that despite vaccine rollout among immigration officers, they will continue to implement basic health protocols such as wearing of face masks and face shields, maintaining physical distancing, and checking of body temperatures.
“BI is a frontline agency and our employees at the ports, as well as in our numerous offices nationwide, have remained open to provide service. Our frontliners are one of the most exposed and have a high risk in contracting the highly transmissible virus. As such, we will continue to make sure that all health protocols are being followed,” Alegre added.
He also expressed hope towards the positive effect of the vaccine rollout towards public service.
“I am confident that as our officers get their jabs, we will be able to carry out our mandate better and with less worry,” said Alegre.
The Task Force Chair thanked those who were able to assist the agency in inoculating its frontline men.
“We wish to thank the Department of Health, the Office of Mayor Isko Moreno of the City of Manila, Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan, City Health Director Dr. Arnold Pangan, Secretary to the Mayor Bernie Ang, and Sta. Ana Hospital Director Dr. Grace Padilla for assisting us in this this endeavor,” said Alegre. “Our administrative team and medical team have worked so hard to make this a reality,” he said.
The City of Manila allowed the Bureau to store their vaccines in their facility until the final rollout.
Almost 300 BI employees have been infected with COVID-19. 30
Speaking of Tokyo Olympics, we have bright prospects for a medal in the persons of our boxers-Olympians Irish Magno, Nesthy Petecio and Carlos Paalam.
Ed Picson, the secretary general of the country's boxing federation, described them as: they are all in good spirits and are preparing hard for the Olympics.
We cheer our athletes when they bring home medals but now is the time to cheer them up as they prepare in their quest for medals, not necessarily gold, but medals nevertheless.
Let us not forget medalists Carlos Yulo and Hidilyn Diaz, both bright prospects for gold medals in the Tokyo Olympics as well as our gymnasts and skaterslike Martinez. They deserve our unflinching support and encouragement .
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Fare the well, Francis Foronda, 58 who died several days ago due to cardiac arrest induced by COVID 19. Francis was the visionary researcher of the City Planning and Development Office, headed by Rosan S. Paquia, EnP who is also the officer-in-charge of the City Agriculture office.