Vaccinee gets five kilos of rice. Photos by Ernie Esconde
BALANGA CITY — The “Bayanihan, Bakunahan” program of the Department of Health kicked off Monday in all inoculation sites temporarily established for the three-day period in barangays and regular vax centers regularly functioning in 11 towns and a city in Bataan.
Individuals seeking vaccines against the coronavirus disease trooped to barangay inoculation areas like in a tent in Barangay Sta. Lucia in Samal and in regular vaccination sites like the giant Bataan People’s Center in Balanga City.
As early as 7 in the morning, barangay health workers, a nurse and a midwife readied their work place under a big tent in Sta. Lucia and began administering vaccines to individuals after registration, vital sign check, assessment and counselling at past 8 a.m.
After being vaccinated, a vaccinee stayed for a while at the post-vaccination area where his blood pressure and heart rate was taken. Then, he got five kilos of rice as incentive and as early Christmas present from the provincial government.
All those to be vaccinated in Bataan during the three-day national vaccination drive whether first dose, second dose or booster shot are entitled to receive the rice.
Ernesto Buenaflor, 57, thanked the medical frontliners from Sta, Lucia for assisting him in his vaccination. “Irerekomenda ko sa mga kasama ko na magpabakuna na rin.”
Rural health midwife Lolita Poblete and nurse Maria Jessa Aledia said there were barangay health workers assigned in every sitio who have already registered those to be vaccinated during the three-day period.
Poblete said even those who were not registered but present themselves to the vaccination site will be inoculated after the issuance of QR codes.
The midwife said the national vaccination drive afforded her, the barangay health workers and other medical workers to visit every nook and corner of the barangay and convinced those still not willing to be vaccinated.
“Ang katwiran ng iba kaya hindi sila makababa ay wala silang pamasahe o pambayad sa sasakyan kaya nakabuti itong mass vaccination day dahil nagalugad namin ang buong barangay at marami kaming nakumbinsi upang magpabakuna sa loob ng tatlong araw,” Poblete said.
Assisting in the vaccination program were barangay kagawads and barangay chairman Hector Forbes.
