Vaccination and church visit: Biñan residents hit two birds with one stone
BIÑAN, Laguna - The local government unit has utilized the Blessed Sacrament Parish Church in South City Homes, Barangay Sto. Tomas as a site for mobile vaccination on Friday (August 20).
The temporary inoculation site was part of the city government's Vax on Wheels program, which aims to cater to residents who live far from fixed vaccination hubs.
Speaking at Radyo Biñan 87.9, Mayor Arman Dimaguila thanked Rev. Fr. Stephen Gonzales, OSJ for immediately agreeing to his proposal.
"I heard, 'yun din pong ibang mga pari ay welcome sa ganitong development, (I heard that other priests also welcome this development)," Dimaguila said.
"Sabi ko nga, maganda ito kasi 'yung mga taga-Sto. Tomas, na-miss din nilang pumunta ng simbahan (As I said, this is good because residents of Barangay Sto. Tomas also missed going to church)." According to City Health Office Disease Surveillance Officer Hans Kristian O. Lorenzana, 467 residents got their first dose of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine in the church.
"Marami po ang natutuwa dahil ang ating simbahan ay nakikiisa sa ating gobyerno sa paghimok magpabakuna ang ating mga residente (Many are glad that the church is one with the government in urging the people to get vaccinated)," Lorenzana told the Manila Bulletin.
Vax on Wheels is scheduled to return to the church in time for the vaccinees' second dose jabs.
Dimaguila has earlier said that he spoke with the Department of Health (DOH) Region IV-A Regional Director Eduardo C. Janairo and appealed for more vaccines now that the city is dealing with a surge in COVID-19 cases, along with other big cities in Laguna.
As of August 20, Biñan has 465 active COVID-19 cases.