The city government here got a boost in its coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccination campaign with the launch of the “Resbakuna sa Botika” at the Mercury Drug Ayala Malls Capitol Central on Thursday.

The initiative mainly aims to deliver booster shots to more residents of Bacolod, which has already surpassed its vaccination target for 70 percent of its population equivalent to 410,701 individuals, by 31 percent.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, who administered the booster doses to some of the vaccinees, said providing greater protection for the Filipinos is important since the country can no longer afford more lockdowns.

“We can no longer afford many more people unemployed. What comes after unemployment is hunger and then it will lead to more sickness,” he added.

National Task Force against Covid-19 chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez, said he, together with Duque and Presidential Adviser for Covid-19 Response Vivencio Dizon, were sent by President Rodrigo Duterte to bring his message.

“We would like to thank all the local government and all those in the private sector for coming together for this,” he added.

Dizon, who has visited the city and province at various points of the pandemic in the past two years, said the difference on his visit now is that the Covid-19 vaccine is now available.

He noted while many of those infected before were admitted in the intensive care units (ICUs), it is no longer the case right now, and in case there are ICU cases, these are likely those who are not vaccinated.

“The facts are very clear. The only way for us, is for all of us to get vaccinated,” he added.

The three officials were also joined by Office of the Presidential Adviser for the Visayas Undersecretary Anthony Gerard “Jonji” Gonzales, who represented Secretary Michael Lloyd Dino.

Mayor Evelio Leonardia welcomed the latest government initiative that enables the city to still bring the Covid-19 vaccines closer to more Bacolodnons.

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said the “Resbakuna sa Botika” is another pioneering step to make sure the leaps made by science in the fight against Covid-19 can reach the general public.

He told Negrenses that with the vaccines now more available to everyone, there is no reason not to get vaccinated. (PNA)