Troops urged to muster strong support for Covid-19 vax program

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 2, 2021): Troops urged to muster strong support for Covid-19 vax program (By Priam Nepomuceno)

VACCINE FOR TROOPS. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (2nd from right) and AFP chief, Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, witness the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccination program for troops at the AFP headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Tuesday (March 2, 2021). Around 100,000 of the 600,000 doses of Sinovac's CoronaVac jabs are allotted to personnel of the DND, the AFP's mother agency. (Photo courtesy of DND)

The country's military chief on Tuesday urged troops to show their "strong resolve of support" to the government's ongoing vaccination program against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) disease.

“As the Chief-of-Staff of the AFP, and in full confidence of our government’s pursuit of promoting the interests of our people; I urge our troops to wholeheartedly support our government’s vaccination program. Let us collectively show our strong resolve of support and trust to this very decisive initiative,” said Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief, Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, during the symbolic vaccination of Sinovac Biotech CoronaVac vaccines to medical frontliners assigned at the AFP headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City Tuesday.

Aside from Sobejana, also present in the event held at the Tejeros Hall, Commissioned Officers Club, was Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Health Undersecretary Myrna C. Cabotaje along with other senior defense officials.

“We in the AFP significantly figure in today’s symbolic vaccination program. We stand alongside our colleagues from the national agencies and local government units in a show of might and resolve in support of the National Vaccine Deployment Program,” he added.

Meanwhile, Col. Maria Sheila Jardiolin, a doctor and the commanding officer of Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo Station Hospital, headed the health services personnel in the facility’s vaccination rollout.

The priority of the vaccination remains to be the medical health workers who perform anti-Covid-19 operations.

Dubbed as “BIDA BAKUNATION” the program seeks to bring immense benefits that the people need in order to restore normalcy in the country. It puts across the important message of protecting and preserving Filipino lives amid the pandemic.

The vaccination program also reassures the effectiveness of the vaccine, which is fully backed by expert and professional advice from esteemed health practitioners of the country.

Sobejana also extended the AFP's gratitude to the national government and the persevering team that tirelessly worked hard to bring these much-needed vaccines.

He said the rollout is the start of many more positive actions from the administration to deliver to the Filipino people.

“With the ongoing vaccine distribution and the attendant inoculation of our front-liners, the days ahead certainly look positive. These coming days bode well for all of us for we will certainly rise above the challenge,” Sobejana said.

Meanwhile, AFP spokesperson, Marine Maj. Gen. Edgard Arevalo, in a message to reporters, identified three of the medical officers who were vaccinated in the ceremonial inoculation.

They are Lt. Col. Jacquelyn Cloma, MC (Medical Corps); Maj. Francis Andrade, MAC (Medical Administrative Corps (MAC) and Maj. Richard Delgado, NC (Nurse Corps).

At the Manila Naval Hospital, Arevalo said its commander, Col. Puralyn Epres, led the vaccination of medical workers of the Philippine Navy and Philippine Marines.

"At the Army General Hospital in Fort Bonifacio, Lt. Col. Teresita R Merioles, MC leads the (medical workers) of the Philippine Army," he added.

At the Philippine Air Force General Hospital, Maj. Irene M. Abutas, MC led the medical workers of the PAF.

"The target today is to vaccinate at least 30 MHWs in each of the hospitals in the four camps named," Arevalo said.

At the Philippine Army headquarters, its chief Lt. Gen. Jose C. Faustino Jr. received the first dose of CoronaVac vaccines.

Faustino, along with vice commander Maj. Gen. Robert C. Dauz, chief of staff, Maj. Gen. Rowen S. Tolentino, and Army General Hospital Executive Officer, Lt. Col. Teresita Merioles got vaccinated in the presence of Department of Health's (DOH) Disease Prevention and Control Bureau Director Dr. Aleli Amie Grace Sudincal, Department of the Interior and Local Government Assistant Secretary Marcelo Morales, and National Task Force against Covid-19 deputy chief implementer, Secretary Vince Dizon.

The vaccine will be distributed to 5,000 personnel in the next 15 days and planning for the nationwide vaccination rollout to all units in 18 Army hospitals is ongoing.

"Remember that being inoculated is our duty to the country and to the Filipino people whom we have sworn to serve and protect," Faustino told the troops. "And to our countrymen, please know that the relentless trust and confidence you accord the Army drive us more to continue our efforts to effectively perform our mandate to serve the people and secure the land."

At the Manila Naval Hospital, Col. Pura Lyn Epres spearheaded the administration of the initial vaccine dosage to 30 Navy hospital and health service front-liners headed by the first vaccinee, acting Chief Surgeon Navy, Col. Reynaldo Capuz who was inoculated by DOH regional director, Dr. Corazon Flores.

These individuals who carry out anti-Covid-19 operations were prioritized to receive the limited first batch of available vaccines but the command endeavors to inoculate all its personnel upon the availability of more dosages.

Navy chief, Vice Adm. Giovanni Carlo Bacordo said Tuesday's inoculation was “truly monumental for the Philippine Navy because it marks the beginning of the implementation of the government’s national vaccination program in the PN, which is expected to be in full swing in the coming weeks.”

“The Philippine Navy is one with the national government and the DOH in protecting and saving Filipino people’s health and lives. We also need this vaccine for us to be able to do our job and we will have them very soon…Little by little, step by step, we can and we will overcome this COVID-19 pandemic together,” Bacordo said.

Around 100,000 of the 600,000 doses of the Sinovac vaccine donated by the Chinese Ministry of Defense were allotted to the Department of National Defense (DND).

The DND will initially inoculate almost 15,000 individuals using close to 30,000 doses while the remaining 70,000 doses will be given to the AFP.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1132277