Provincial Administrator and OIC Provincial Health Officer Dr. Hubbert Christopher A. Dolor (left) explains the benefits of vaccines against COVID-19 in a meeting held at Tamaraw Hall, Provincial Capitol, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro on Feb. 17. (Photo credit: Oriental Mindoro PIO/PIA)

CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro, Feb. 19 (PIA) -- In preparation for the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, the provincial government has organized its Local Vaccination Operations Center in the province.

Provincial Administrator and Officer-in-Charge Provincial Health Officer Dr. Hubbert Christopher A. Dolor met yesterday in a meeting all concerned personnel to manage the center, specifically the strategies on how to disseminate the right information that would help people become aware of the benefits of vaccines.

Dr. Dolor revealed that in the latest survey they conducted in the municipalities, there seemed to have a low favor of accepting the vaccines especially the senior citizens, who are one of the government's priorities to be vaccinated, including all frontline health workers and uniformed personnel.

In the operation center, five teams were formally organized, namely: Planning, Campaign Management and Technical Team; Cold Chain and Logistics Team; Coordination Team; Vaccine Safety, Surveillance and Response Team; and Communication, Advocacy and Partnership Team. The Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-Oriental Mindoro has been tasked to lead the communication advocacy in partnership with the Provincial Information Office (PIO) and Provincial Health Office (PHO).

"This is a very crucial role for each one of us to help each other on how we could encourage our people in Oriental Mindoro to participate and eventually get vaccinated. The vaccine is safe and this will serve as protection against COVID-19 for them and for all of us," said Dr. Dolor.

Dr. Dolor urged the PHO to produce more brochures in order to disseminate to people in all municipalities for their awareness on COVID-19 vaccination which according to PHO, may be administered by March or beyond. PHO has already more than 40,000 printed information materials for dissemination but such number is not sufficient according to Dr. Dolor, thus reproduction of which is ongoing.

During the meeting, the issue of having vaccination certificate was brought out as it may possibly become a requirement before travelling outside Oriental Mindoro. Dr. Dolor assured Mindorenos that this will never happen in the future as they may not allow it. In fact, he said vaccination is on voluntary basis and no one is compelled to undergo vaccination if one refuses it. However, he pointed out the importance of vaccine for protection.

The creation of Task Force Vaccination is in line with the Executive Order No. 01 series of 2021 issued by Gov. Bonz Dolor last January 26, which underscores the COVID-19 vaccination plans and programs of the Provincial Government of Oriental Mindoro, establishing a Provincial COVID-19 Vaccination Task Force.

Among other important matters discussed in the meeting include the list of priority groups to be vaccinated. Under Category A, health workers, senior citizens, remaining indigent population and uniformed personnel are the first target of the program. It should be followed by Category B where teachers, social workers, government employees, workers from agriculture sector, food industry, transportation and tourism, Overseas Filipino Workers and among others.

Dr. Dolor announced that the designated center of vaccination for national government employees will be at the Oriental Mindoro Provincial Hospital (OMPH) and the local government employees will be in their respective City/Municipal Health Offices. (LTC/PIA-OrMin)