Hospitals start vaccination of personnel against COVID-19

Several hospitals on Wednesday began vaccinating their personnel against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) using the vaccine developed by Chinese firm Sinovac Biotech.

According to Sandra Aguinaldo’s report on “Balitanghali,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque III led the vaccination at East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC).

Duque himself administered the vaccine to EAMC chief Dr. Alfonso Nuñez and Senior Nurse Rose Marie Reyes.

The Health Secretary reiterated the safety of the vaccine and its effectivity in preventing severe COVID-19.

Nuñez, meanwhile, likened the vaccination to an ant bite. He also expressed hope that the EAMC will encourage other employees to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

At present, around 60 employees out of more than 3,000 have been vaccinated against the illness since the hospital’s soft launch on Tuesday.

The EAMC hopes to vaccinate around 150 to 175 health workers.

Duque also said that they are hoping for the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccines developed by British pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca so the country’s inoculation program will remain undisturbed.

According to Mariz Umali’s separate report, the St. Luke's Medical Center in Global City, Taguig earlier held a ceremonial vaccination using Sinovac’s vaccine, during which St. Luke's Medical Center president and CEO Dr. Art De La Peña and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Benjamin Campomanes were vaccinated.

Vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said he was surprised that the St. Luke's requested Sinovac’s vaccine as they knew that the hospital preferred AstraZeneca and Pfizer’s shots.

Malacañang expressed happiness with St. Luke’s decision, as the hospital is one of the leaders in medical health. 

St. Luke's hopes to vaccinate 5,000 employees.

Meanwhile, three staff members at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan were vaccinated on Wednesday, according to Bernadette Reyes’ report.

The mass vaccination at the hospital will be rolled out on Friday after around 300 doses of Sinovac’s vaccine arrived at the hospital on Tuesday night.

Dr. Rose Marie Serano, head of the COVID Task Force and senior assistant medical director, said being part of the national rollout of mass vaccination is important for the hospital to help fight against the virus.

Serano said that part of the hospital's mission is to serve the community.

At present, 61 percent of the doctors in Cardinal Santos have agreed to be vaccinated against the illness.

The Cardinal Santos was the hospital that accepted the first case of community transmission of COVID-19 in the country on March 5, 2020.

Those vaccinated include the chairman of the Department of Orthopedics, the chief resident of the Department of Internal Medicine, and the head of the Human Resources Department.

According to Jun Veneracion’s report, the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) aims to vaccinate around 150 frontliners on Wednesday.

Among those on the list is Dr. Michael Jaro, who administered the COVID-19 vaccine on himself. He said it was to help his colleagues build confidence in Sinovac’s vaccine.

Jaro added that he will continue to follow health protocols against the illness.

Only 150 agreed to be vaccinated out of the NKTI’s 2,400 employees.

However, NKTI director Dr. Rose Marie Rosete-Liquete said they are hoping that more will be convinced to take the vaccine within the day.

Meanwhile, 150 healthcare workers of the San Lazaro Hospital will also be vaccinated against the COVID-19.

According to Jun Veneracion’s report, all the hospital's medical frontliners have been vaccinated at present time.

The first case of COVID-19 in the Philippines was confined in San Lazaro.

Amid the spike of cases in the country, several healthcare workers at the San Lazaro hospital have tested positive for the illness.

Due to this, many of the hospital’s medical frontliners, including the doctors, are ready to take the vaccine.

Among those vaccinated were Dr. Rontgene Solante, an infectious disease specialist, Dr. Ferdinand De Guzman, Dr. Nimfa Putong, and Dr. Susan Lee.

De Guzman, one of the hospital’s spokespersons, said that due to the vaccination of the doctors, more healthcare workers were encouraged to get the vaccine.

He  added that because of this, the hospital may need to ask for more supplies. Putong said they may ask for an additional 150 vials from the Health Department.

Meanwhile, San Lazaro Hospital Medical Director Dr. Edmundo Lopez said that the hospital will not ease its health care protocols despite the vaccine's arrival. — BM, GMA News