To continue its COVID-19 vaccination program and encourage more people to get vaccinated, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), through its Bakuna Bus, returned to Malabon City in Barangay Longos on May 20.
Over 100 patients, including senior citizens and immunocompromised, were able to receive their 1st booster shots. They were also advised to monitor their health conditions in preparation for their 2nd booster shots. The Department of Health issued an announcement on May 18 that senior citizens and the immunocompromised can join health workers in availing of the second booster shot.
“Nagbabalik ang Red Cross dito sa Malabon upang ipagpatuloy ang ating vaccination program. Ang ating Bakuna Bus ay handang sumuong sa mga liblib na lugar upang mas mahikayat natin ang ating mga kababayan na magpabakuna. Walang maiiwan sa ating laban kontra COVID-19,” PRC Chairman and CEO Richard Gordon said.
Providing a mobile COVID-19 vaccination program, the Bakuna Bus is strategically designed with facilities in compliance with the vaccine administration protocols, COVID-19 vaccines and other supplies, and space for volunteers and staff. With this interior, the PRC delivers a more efficient service to achieve herd immunity amid the pandemic, fulfilling its mandate to assist the government in its COVID-19 efforts.
To date, the PRC has administered 1,178,776 vaccination doses with 20 Bakuna Buses deployed in different areas in the Philippines.
In support of the Department of Health’s announcement on May 18, 2022, giving the green light for the administration of second Covid-19 vaccine booster shots, the Philippine Red Cross Bakuna Centers are open to those who are qualified for the booster shots.
The Department of Health explained that the second booster shot is a defense of health workers and the highly vulnerable seniors. It also reiterated that the shots are safe, effective, and free of charge.
Qualified persons — those in A1 category, Workers in Frontline Health Services, and A2, Senior Citizens, who had their first booster shot four months ago — may walk in at a Philippine Red Cross Bakuna Center to have their second booster. There is no need for an appointment.
Those who plan to avail of the second booster shot must bring their vaccination card showing the date of the first booster dose and any government-issued ID.
The Philippine Red Cross Chairman and CEO, Senator Richard J. Gordon, encouraged those who are qualified to get the jab to visit a Red Cross vaccination center. “Hinihikayat ko ang ating mga kababayan na frontline healthcare workers at senior citizens na fully vaccinated at may first booster shot na kunin na ang second booster shot para sa kanilang proteksyon,” Chairman Gordon said.
The Philippine Red Cross’ vaccination efforts are part of its mandate as an auxiliary to the government in its humanitarian tasks. The Philippine Red Cross started administering Covid-19 vaccines in March 2021. As of May 19, 2022, it has administered 1,176,151 doses of Covid-19 vaccines and boosters, of which 92,712 are boosters. It has fully vaccinated 372,352 individuals.
Supported by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairman and CEO Sen. Dick Gordon ordered the quick deployment of Bakuna Bus to help the government in its vaccination program in Zamboanga City last May 2, 2022.
“Patuloy na maglilingkod ang PRC para sa mga kapatid natin sa Zamboanga City at iba pang karatig probinsiya dito sa Mindanao. Sa katunayan, walang humpay ang deployment ng ating Bakuna Buses upang makamit natin ang herd immunity sa lalong madaling panahon. Taos-pusong pasasalamat sa ICRC para sa agarang tulong upang maisakatuparan natin ang ganitong gawain,” Sen. Gordon said.
Since the pilot deployment in Mindanao on April 14, 2022, the PRC Bakuna Buses have already served around 1,000 individuals, including those in Manolo, Fortich, and Impasug-ong, Bukidnon and Malalag, Kiblawan, and Hagonoy, Davao del Sur.
The PRC, aiming to provide an efficient mobile COVID-19 vaccination program, designed every Bakuna Bus’s interior with facilities following the vaccine administration protocols, COVID-19 vaccines and other supplies, and space for vaccinators, volunteers, and staff. Besides administering COVID-19 vaccines through these Bakuna Buses, the PRC aimed to educate its target communities in Mindanao about the importance of participating in the organization’s vaccination programs to achieve herd immunity amidst the pandemic.
The PRC has recorded 1,158,745 vaccination doses with 20 Bakuna Buses deployed in different areas in the Philippines.
The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) now has 20 Bakuna buses, the latest of which is currently deployed in Pangasinan and is supported by the Coca-Cola Foundation.
The PRC Bakuna Bus is a bus whose interior is set up with facilities for administering vaccines, Covid-19 vaccines and supplies, and space for vaccinators. It is PRC’s way of bringing the vaccines and information to the people, assuaging their hesitations to get vaccinated.
“Patuloy ang ating laban sa Covid-19 sa pamamagitan ng bakuna at RT-PCR tests. Hindi titigil ang Red Cross na gawin ang dapat gawin upang marating ang herd immunity,” the PRC Chairman and CEO, Senator Dick Gordon, said.
Also dubbed “Health on Wheels,” the Bakuna Bus will provide a mobile Covid-19 vaccination capability in Pangasinan, initially to the fourth district, specifically to the municipalities of San Fabian, Mangaldan, San Jacinto, and Rosales.
The Philippine Red Cross (PRC), in partnership with local governments, has administered more than 20,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines and boosters in Negros Occidental from 2021 to 2022, fully vaccinating 9,421 persons as of April 3, 2022. This milestone comes at a time when the province has fully lifted mass gathering restrictions in Sagay City, La Carlota City, and E.B. Magalona, Pulupandan, and San Enrique towns.
Last April 1, 2022, Negros Occidental Governor Bong Lacson issued an executive order placing Sagay City, La Carlota City, and the municipalities of E.B. Magalona, Pulupandan, and San Enrique under Alert Level 1. Under Alert Level 1, business establishments and outdoor activities are allowed 100% capacity, subject to the local government’s guidelines. The rest of the province remains under Alert Level 2.
“Patuloy na tutulong ang Philippine Red Cross sa ating gobyerno para labanan ang COVID-19,” PRC Chairman and CEO, Senator Dick Gordon, said.
As it eases Covid-19 restrictions as of April 1, the Philippines has been opened to all nationalities of foreign tourists from all countries as long as they are fully vaccinated.
Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairman and CEO Sen. Dick Gordon urged the public to get tested regularly for early detection to prevent transmission and to also get vaccinated or receive booster shots for added protection. Gordon also said that PRC is prepared for any possibility of a surge since there are PRC Molecular Laboratories, Bakuna Centers, Bakuna Buses, Isolation Facilities, and Emergency Field Hospitals available 24/7.
“Tumataas ang kaso ng COVID-19 cases sa ibang bansa, we must be ready for any possible surge. We must prevent it through practicing health and safety protocols, social distancing, sanitizing your hands, getting vaccinated, and being tested regularly for early protection,” Gordon said.
Through PRC’s 14 molecular laboratories, anyone can get tested and avail of the cheapest RT-PCR test in the country priced at only P1,500 for the saliva RT-PCR test and just P2,800 for the swab RT-PCR test. The saliva and swab RT-PCR tests are considered the gold standard for COVID-19 testing.
PRC also continues to deploy its Bakuna Buses to remote areas and has a continuous operations program for their Bakuna Centers to inoculate unvaccinated individuals and provide additional protection through booster shots. To date, PRC has already conducted 5,515,453 tests and administered 1,104,478 doses of Covid-19 vaccines.
PRC has also turned unused classrooms into isolation facilities to accommodate asymptomatic spreaders. There are also PRC emergency field hospitals to serve as extension wards for other hospitals to accommodate any overflow of COVID-19 patients. The initiative of the Red Cross was started last April 2021, to provide assistance to the overwhelmed healthcare system in the country due to the increasing number of COVID-19 positive individuals at that time. Since then, PRC has cared for 5,176 individuals in the isolation facilities and 65,856 individuals in the emergency field hospitals and medical tents.
The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) is the leading humanitarian organization in COVID-19 response in the country continues to provide hope, especially in this time of the pandemic. Through the leadership of PRC Chairman and CEO Sen. Dick Gordon, PRC was able to implement various initiatives such as COVID-19 vaccination, Isolation Facilities, Emergency Field Hospital, Medical tents, and Hot Meals distribution, among others of PRC initiatives to alleviate human suffering and uplift the dignity of the people.
Due to the rising concern of the new omicron variant in other countries, Sen. Dick Gordon reiterates the importance of vaccination and regular testing to protect everyone against the deadly virus. In line with the National Vaccination Days, PRC deploys its Bakuna 17 Bakuna Bus and 25 Bakuna centers to support the different local government units in its vaccination program.
“We are at war against COVID-19. As part of the Philippine Red Cross, it is our duty and responsibility to be a part of the solution, in beating the invisible enemy. We are doing everything that we can from testing, isolation, emergency hospital, food pack, and cash distribution, and vaccination to alleviate the suffering of the most vulnerable greatly affected by the pandemic,” PRC Chairman and CEO Sen. Dick Gordon said.
To date, PRC has conducted 4,985,840 RT-PCR tests through the 14 PRC molecular laboratories, Vaccinated 606,481 individuals through the 25 Bakuna Centers and 17 Bakuna Buses, served 4,411 patients in 6 Isolation facilities, served 56, 806 individuals through its 111 medical tents deployed in 62 hospitals, and distributed 110,215 hot meals through PRC’s 28 food trucks.
“With a fleet of 17 Bakuna Buses, we were able to vaccinate 2,509 individuals yesterday. It is a joint effort by the Red Cross, the local government unit, and our donors for the Bakuna Bus to hasten our COVID-19 response and protect our fellow Filipinos from COVID-19, ” Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairman and CEO Sen Dick Gordon said.
PRC continues the Bakuna Bus deployment and assists the different local governments in its vaccination program. The Bakuna Bus vaccinated 2,509 individuals in Iloilo, Aklan, Capiz, Laguna, Batangas, and Bogo City on November 25, 20211.
To date, PRC has already vaccinated 576, 557 through the 17 Bakuna Buses and 25 Bakuna Centers. This is part of Sen Gordon’s initiative to speed up the vaccination.
Sen. Dick Gordon reiterates that everyone should still observe health protocols despite the lowering of cases. PRC continues its Covid-19 initiatives such as Isolation facilities, Emergency Medical Tents, and COVID-19 testing.
The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) partners with Laguna Police Provincial Office to launch its COVID-19 vaccination program for persons deprived of liberty (PDL). PRC started to roll out its Bakuna Bus to begin the first day of vaccination and vaccinated 540 individuals in Binan City Police Station and 25 in San Pablo City police station on November 24, 2021.
PRC Laguna Chapter, headed by its Chapter Administrator Frank Gray Sorromero, targets the vaccination of PDLs in 24 Municipalities and 6 Cities in Laguna from November 24, 2021, to December 03, 2021.
“Tayo ay walang pinipili. Dapat masigurado natin na lahat ay protektado kontra COVID-19 at walang maiiwan ngayong pandemya,” PRC Chairman and CEO Sen. Dick Gordon said.
The Bakuna Bus will head to Santa Cruz and Pila Municipal Police Station on November 25, 2021, to continue its vaccination for persons deprived of liberty. PRC Laguna Chapter thanks Laguna Police Provincial Office Acting Provincial Director PCOL Rogarth Bulalacao Campo for the partnership in vaccinating the most vulnerable groups.
The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) deployed its Bakuna Bus to Negros Occidental and vaccinated 303 individuals belonging to the A3-A4 priority group last November 21, 2021.
PRC Chairman and CEO Sen. Dick Gordon ordered the deployment of the Bakuna Bus in support of the different local government units (LGU) nationwide to protect the residents from COVID-19.
“Kailangan mabilis tayo sa pag aksyon lalo na papalapit na ang pasko. Hatid ng Philippine Red Cross ay isang ligtas na pasko sa pamamagitan ng pagbabakuna. Kaya patuloy ang Philippine Red Cross sa pagbabakuna gamit ang 17 Bakuna Buses at 25 Bakuna Centers nationwide,” Sen. Dick Gordon said.
PRC Negros Occidental Chapter continuously supports the LGU in its back-to-back vaccination roll-out at Gaisano City Mall and Brgy 14, Victorias City. PRC Silay City Branch also conducted a handwashing demonstration and hot meals distribution to 100 children at Purok Sawmill, Brgy Mambulak, Silay City, to intensify PRC’s fight against COVID-19.
