Rodriguez wants easy access of seniors to Covid vaccines

Proposes designation of brgys as vaccination sites

AS the most vulnerable sector at this time of the pandemic, senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) should have easy access to the vaccines right in their own barangays.

This was stressed by Councilor Jocelyn B. Rodriguez in her special report during Monday’s regular session presided over by Vice Mayor Raineir Joaquin V. Uy.

Rodriguez said she saw a notice on the city government’s official Facebook page on June 24, 2021, advising residents to wait for a text message before proceeding to the vaccination sites.

“It’s like no text, no vaccine, or no celfone no vaccine. Unsay mahitabo sa mga senior citizens sa mga kabarangayan labina sa mga hinterland barangays nga walay mga celfones o internet? What is their access to the COVID 19 vaccines?” she asked.

Citing this predicament, Rodriguez proposed a resolution for the health sector of the local government to consider designating barangays or clustered barangays in the city as additional vaccination sites.

If ever this move will be realized, senior citizens and PWDs will no longer need to go to the malls to be vaccinated, she explained.

“Based on my experience, maglisod gayud ang senior citizen especially na stroke na before bisan pagtikang sa escalator, galisod. So how much more for those nga tua gayud sa kabukiran nga galisod gani pag-anhi sa dakbayan kay walay pamelete, how much more nga wala silay celfone, how much more pag register online?” Rodriguez explained

According to the councilor, senior citizens will be more at home in their respective barangays where they know the Barangay Nutrition Scholars, Barangay Health Workers, doctors, nurses, and where they are used to go for health services.

“Let’s give them the privilege to be vaccinated in their second home. I am submitting my resolution and hopefully, this can be reviewed,” Rodriguez said.

The matter was referred to the committee on health and health insurance chaired by Councilor Maria Lourdes S. Gaane for further study.