The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) has administered 22,021 doses of Covid-19 vaccines in Lapu-Lapu City and Cordova town, in Cebu province, through the PRC Mobile Bakuna Team, fully inoculating 5,630 persons.
Lapu-Lapu is currently under Covid-19 alert level 1, while Cordova is on alert level 2. Other PRC vaccination sites in Visayas are in Bohol, Capiz, Negros Occidental, Aklan, Bogo, Iloilo City, Cebu City, Cebu province, and Roxas City.
The vaccinations are part of the PRC’s Covid-19 response across the country. As of June 9, 2022, PRC has administered 1,190,940 doses of Covid-19 vaccines, including boosters in the whole country, fully vaccinating 372,963 persons.
PRC Chairman and CEO Richard J. Gordon encouraged Filipinos again to get vaccinated and those who are qualified to have the first or second booster shots to get them. “Ang Philippine Red Cross ay laging handa at laging nandyan, hanggang sa maging ligtas ang mga Pilipino sa banta ng Covid-19,” Chairman Gordon said.
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.
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.
