8ID to finish first jab for 600 soldiers by March 16

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 12, 2021): 8ID to finish first jab for 600 soldiers by March 16 (By Sarwell Meniano) 

VACCINES FOR SOLDIERS. Philippine Army 8th Infantry Division Commander, Major Gen. Pio Diñoso III, receives the Sinovac vaccine during a ceremonial kickoff in Catbalogan City on Thursday (March 11, 2021). The Philippine Army 8th Infantry Division (8ID) is eyeing to provide coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines to 600 soldiers and its medical workers by March 16, an official said on Friday (March 12, 2021). (Photo courtesy of Philippine Army)

The Philippine Army 8th Infantry Division (8ID) is eyeing to provide coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines to 600 soldiers and its medical workers in six days, an official said on Friday.

Major Gen. Pio Diñoso III, 8ID commander, said they hope to complete the first round of immunization among their ranks from March 11 to 16 after receiving 1,200 vials of Sinovac vaccines from their general headquarters.

The military held the vaccination kick-off on Thursday at the Camp Lukban Station Hospital inside the 8ID complex in Catbalogan City, Samar.

“Soldiers vaccination is not an option. It is our duty to receive the vaccine. So, this is not just a privilege. Our leaders are giving us a weapon in this vaccine so that we can more efficiently, more effectively perform our jobs and serve the people,” Diñoso said in a statement.

Covid-19 vaccine recipients undergo a five-step process, including registration, screening, counseling, vaccination, and post-vaccination monitoring.

Of the 600 personnel, 500 of them are soldiers and 100 are the medical staff of the 8ID.

Listed in the first batch of recipients are those first responders in hospitals, assigned in quarantine checkpoints, commanders, and tasked to transport medical supplies and stranded individuals.

“Our commanders are included in the priority since they regularly interact with different people. Our goal is to provide vaccines to all soldiers the soonest, but it depends on the availability of supply,” Capt. Reynaldo Aragones, 8ID spokesperson, said in a phone interview.

Earlier, the Armed Forces of the Philippines announced that all uniformed personnel are required to get inoculated by Covid-19 vaccines.

There are about 6,000 soldiers assigned in Eastern Visayas.

The first batch of vaccines administered by the region’s military is part of the 600,000 doses of Sinovac vaccines donated by the Chinese government to the country.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1133397