12/06/2022
OPAV extends gratitude to the people behind the success of VVOC
As the Visayas Covid-19 Vaccination Operations Center wrap things up after a year of its operations, Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Secretary Michael Lloyd Dino thanked those who made VVOC a success during the pandemic.
It was in 2021 when the Philippine National Deployment and Vaccination Plan for COVID-19 Vaccines were rolled out.
The Regional and Local COVID-19 Vaccination Operations Centers have also been directed to develop their deployment and vaccination plans based on the guidelines issued by the Department of Health.
Today, over 150 million doses have been given in the country with 70 million Filipinos fully vaccinated 64% of the Philippine population.
“This is already a groundbreaking achievement of the government as we pursue our fight against the longstanding pandemic that has affected us in more ways than one,” said Usec. Jonji Gonzales during his opening remarks on the culmination at the VVOC, Friday, June 10, at Oakridge, Mandaue City.
He added that Secretary Michael Lloyd Dino wanted to make sure that the Visayas got its fair share of vaccines at the outset.
“And the basis of the NTF for allocation was the systematic and efficient administration of the vaccines. Thus, the Visayas Vaccination Operations Center was conceptualized and has greatly contributed to this outstanding accomplishment in our country’s vaccination efforts,” added Usec. Gonzales.
As of this date, around 19 million doses were given in the Visayas, over 6.5 million have been fully vaccinated, and 1.6 million boostered.
OPAV is thankful to the guidance of the DOH-7 team led by RD Jaime S. Bernadas, including the great efforts of Visayas Chief Implementer Gen. Melquiades Feliciano and wife Mia, Project Balik Buhay Chairman Edmun Liu and co-Chair Kenneth Cobonpue, Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia, Mayors of the different municipalities and cities of Cebu, Tri-City Mayors, doctors, nurses, and all medical frontliners.
With the LGUs, NGAs, and the private sector working together for the VVOC, the guidance of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to apply a whole-of-nation approach to the National Vaccination Plan made its success.
Special thanks to the support of the Senate Committee on Health Sen. Christopher Lawrence “B**g” Go for its proactive call for an efficient, equitable, and effective rollout of vaccines.