THE arrival of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines in the country is a “breather” for Cebu City officials.
1. Labella says vaccine program can help revive business climate in Cebu City
Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella said the coming of AstraZeneca, the second vaccine to arrive in the country, will help pave the way for the new normal in Cebu City and the whole country.
The national government previously announced that Cebu City is one of the priority areas for the vaccination program of the national government.
Labella said once the vaccination program will start in Cebu City, it can help revive the business climate in the city.
“It is a welcome development that we have been hoping for in the fight against the coronavirus,” Labella told SunStar Cebu on Sunday, February 28, 2021.
Labella said he still wants to give the public a chance to choose which vaccines they would want to avail of.
2. Garganera says there is new challenge ahead
For Cebu City Councilor Joel Garganera, deputy chief implementer of the Emergency Operations Center, the arrival of the vaccines “feels like the eagle has finally landed.”
Garganera said although he felt relieved with this new development, it is another challenge for the city.
“There is no denying that not everyone will be able to avail of the vaccine right away and there will be an order of priority,” said Garganera.
“Due to its limited number for now, a lot of issues will arise and we have to be prepared for it,” he said.
Garganera said Cebu City has to prepare and install proper safeguard for the enforcement of the program.
The Cebu City Government still continues to negotiate with owners of establishments that can possibly be converted into vaccination sites.
3. City still looking for vaccination sites
City Health Department (CHD) acting head Jeffrey Ibones said the City is set to meet with some mall owners and operators of private schools, adding these establishments are ideal areas for vaccination sites.
Ibones said the previously proposed gyms, though ideal for long term, only have one way for entrance and exit, unlike malls and schools that are bigger and have a number of entrance and exit ways.
Ibones said the CHD is also collating the masterlist of medical frontliners to be inoculated.
He said there is still no schedule as to when the vaccination will begin.
“Naay muabot pero sa pagsugod sa vaccination, wa pa ta kahibaw,” said Ibones. (JJL)