A total of 300 health workers from the local government-run Quezon City General Hospital (QCGH) are set to receive China’s Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine following the hospital’s vaccination program rollout on Wednesday
Mayor Joy Belmonte said the rollout “is a milestone” in the city’s pandemic response.
“We have begun the vaccination process starting with our health workers whose lives have been constantly at risk since the pandemic began last year,” Belmonte, who witnessed the rollout, said in a statement.
“I want our doctors and healthcare workers to be protected in any way possible. This vaccine is the best vaccine right now considering that this is what is available to us,” she added.
According to QCGH Director Josephine Sabando, most of the hospital’s health workers are willing to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
“However, when the vaccine to be used was identified, some hesitated. But after attending their town hall meetings where they were presented with facts and studies, many doctors, nurses, and other medical staff changed their minds and registered for the vaccination.”
Sabando said it was Belmonte who “convinced” them to get vaccinated “because this would protect us from infection." "Also, seeing other doctors and nurses get vaccinated really helped a lot in convincing our own team to register,” she added.
The local government said the administration of the vaccine to 300 health workers, who chose Sinovac, will be completed by Friday.
"We target to vaccinate 100 individuals per day," it said.
The second dose of Sinovac’s CoronaVac vaccine is expected to be delivered and administered after four weeks.
Aside from QCGH, Belmonte led the rollout of the vaccination program at East Avenue Medical Center, St. Luke's Medical Center - Quezon City, and National Kidney and Transplant Institute.