The city government here started its house-to-house Covid-19 vaccination of 20 bedridden elderly in Barangay Lourdes Sur East by deploying a mobile bus on Friday.

Mayor Carmelo Lazatin, Jr. said the city government aims to deliver easier and accessible vaccination services to senior citizens inflicted with diseases or other health-related issues.

A total of 660 bedridden elderly in the city will receive their inoculation via house-to-house visitation.

Apart from administering the vaccine, PHP1,000 cash assistance and Vitamin C supplements will also be given.

“We have to extend the inoculation at the grassroots level by reaching out to those unreached,” Lazatin said in an official social media account post.

The mobile vaccination of seniors started with an assessment by doctors and health workers of Rafael Lazatin Memorial Medical Center (RLMMC) and City Health Office (CHO) a day before their scheduled vaccination.

“This is to make sure that the bedridden seniors are ready, capable, and fit to receive the vaccine,” RLMMC chief of hospital Dr. Froilan Canlas said.

The medical front-liners are also present inside the mobile bus during vaccination day.

Also inside the mobile bus owned by the city government and Korean Association are complete medical equipment for the safe transport of the vaccines and for the safety of senior citizens.

Alongside the mobile bus are two ambulances and one mobile clinic utility vehicle.

Lazatin’s chief adviser Irish Calaguas said the mobile vaccination for the elderly will serve as preparation for a goal to conduct house-to-house inoculation and to reach Angeleños residing in far-flung areas such as Barangays Sapangbato and Margot.

To date, out of the 49,964 members of the elderly population in the city, 19,501 seniors received their first dose of vaccine, while 11,451 are already fully vaccinated.

The vaccination of the priority group of senior citizens is still ongoing via a schedule. (PNA)