Senior citizens were spared from the usual sweltering atmosphere at vaccination centers as they got to receive the anti-coronavirus disease (Covid-19) shots at the garden park of a mall here.
This, after Mayor Myca Elizabeth Vergara and the management of SM City Cabanatuan and SM Megacenter entered into an agreement for the free use of mall facilities for the series of Covid-19 vaccination activities.
Some 100 elderlies were given the first dose of Sinovac at the Level 2, Garden Park of SM Cabanatuan when the vaccination for the group started, as witnessed by Vergara, on Monday.
Vergara said some 1,000 senior citizens have initially registered for vaccination in this city, which has so far received over 970 doses of vaccines for the priority group.
“The vaccination against the dreaded disease is a big step towards ending the pandemic,” Vergara said. She said senior citizens could catch infection from the younger household members who go out to work and buy the essentials, thus, it is important to have them vaccinated.
Vergara lauded SM Supermalls for opening the venue and providing all the equipment needed like chairs, tables and barricades, as well as manpower to maintain security, crowd management, cleanliness and proper sanitation of the area, for free.
Joanne Bondoc, assistant mall manager, said SM has been working with the community since day one of the pandemic and this initiative in another way for the company to be part of the continuous battle against Covid-19.
“Since last year, SM has been actively supporting the community with SM Foundation Inc. through the donation drives wherein SM distributed temperature scanners, personal protective equipment, alcohols, food and distribution of Kalinga Packs in different barangays. The used ‘Resbakuna’ venue is part of the continuous efforts that we would like to extend in helping our local government to properly conduct the vaccination drive for Cabanatuenos,” Bondoc said.
SM Megacenter Cabanatuan will also be a venue for the ‘Resbakuna’ program in the following days. (PNA)
