Mayor Michael Rama on Wednesday thanked the national government for including this city in the pilot run of the “Resbakuna sa Botika” coronavirus disease (Covid-19) vaccination program launched in Barangay Lahug here.

“I am very thankful on behalf of the city government that additional facet to make vaccines accessible to the people. One thing that we are overzealous and passionate that we all will liberate the City of Cebu from the quagmire of the pandemic and the way to liberation is vaccination,” Rama said in his message during the launching of the first vaccination site at the Rose Pharmacy in JY Square.

He urged city residents who have not received their Covid-19 vaccines to avail of the jabs in the pharmacy, even as he hinted that more pharmaceutical firms will be joining this program of the national government.

The mayor told other officials present at the launching that the city government wishes to make vaccines accessible even down to the household level in a bid to achieve population protection against Covid-19.

National Task Force (NTF) against Covid-19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr., who was among the guests, cited the persistence of the city government in coordinating with the NTF in its effort to acquire more vaccines for their constituents and ramp up inoculation despite challenges brought by Typhoon Odette.

Galvez also said inoculation at the pharmacies will make the vaccines accessible to all.

“Darating ang araw na maging commercialized na ang ating mga vaccines. Ito ay mapunta na sa mga pharmacy katulad ng Rose Pharmacy at ibang pharmacy. May mga pharmacy na deputized na ng DOH (Department of Health) na magbigay ng vaccine sa ating kabataan (The day will come when our vaccines will be commercialized. It will now go to the pharmacies such as Rose Pharmacy and other pharmacies. Some pharmacies have been deputized by the DOH to provide vaccines to our children),” he said.

Galvez also hinted at the start here of the inoculation of younger children aged 5 to 11, saying that giving them added protection against Covid-19 will end the prohibition of face-to-face classes.

Michael So, deputy general manager of Rose Pharmacy, said their company is honored to be part of the national government’s effort to ramp up vaccinations.

“This program would make Covid-19 vaccines more accessible to all by mobilizing a vast network of pharmacies and pharmacists nationwide (that) is the best step in the right direction in our united fight to (end) this pandemic,” he said in his message.

So also urged those who have been fully vaccinated but have not received their booster jabs to register and get their vaccines at their pharmacy.

Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV) Assistant Secretary Jonji Gonzales expressed hopes that by making the vaccines accessible through the pharmacies, Cebu’s economy will bounce back, citing the 7.1 percent gross domestic product (GDP) growth experienced in the last quarter of 2021.

Testing czar Vince Dizon, city government and DOH-7 officials also attended the launching. (PNA)