MABALACAT CITY— No less than the Philippines’ Inter-Agency Task Force Against Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) lauded the Mabalacat City Government (MCG) anew, this time for its highest vaccine utilization rate in the province.
This was disclosed by Mabalacat City COVID-19 Response Integrated System (CRIS) czar Dr. Jose Antonio Rivera as he represented the city during the IATF National Task Force Meeting with Central Luzon for Bayanihan Bakunahan on November 26, 2021, at Quest Plus Conference Center Clark.
With an overall vaccine utilization rate of 95.70%, the city government was also able to surpass its 198,001-target population under its COVID-19 Immunization Program. These developments were recognized during the meeting attended by Presidential Adviser for COVID-19 Response Secretary Vince Dizon, Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque, National Task Force against COVID-19 chief implementer and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr., key officials, and local chief executives from Region III.
“Secretary Dizon challenged MCG before to double-up our vaccination process and we were able to fulfill that as the city is now reaching herd immunity,” said Dr. Rivera.
Based on the comprehensive report presented by the Provincial Vaccination Operations Center (PVOC), Mabalacat City has already vaccinated a total of 204,180 residents for the first dose, and 184,370 residents for the second dose, as of November 25, 2021.
PVOC data also shows that the city accrued a vaccine utilization rate of 105% (first dose) and 86.60% (second dose). In total, the local government has administered a total of 388,550 doses for its COVID-19 vaccination drive which is the highest in the whole province.
For his part, Mabalacat City Mayor Crisostomo Garbo expressed his elation over the easing pandemic situation in the city as a result of MCG’s no letup COVID-19 response and massive vaccination drive.
“Taos-puso po ang pasasalamat ng pamahalaang lungsod ng Mabalacat sa lahat ng sangay ng gobyerno, mga medical frontline workers mula sa pampubliko at pribadong sektor, maging sa ating mga corporate partners na naging katuwang po natin upang matamasa ang mas maginhawang pandemic situation dito sa ating siyudad,” said Mayor Garbo.
“Manatili po sana tayong maging maingat dahil hindi pa po tapos ang pandemya lalo na ngayong may natuklasang mas nakahahawang variant ang South African health authorities na tinawag ng World Health Organization (WHO) na Omicron variant,” the city mayor cautioned.
