Vaccine operations at the City of Puerto Princesa were suspended after a handful of istaff members tested positive for COVID-19, Dr. Rick Panganiban, Puerto Princesa City Health Officer (CHO) confirmed in an interview with City Information Officer (CIO) Richard Ligad’s radio program on Tuesday, January 25.
“For the past weeks kasi nagkakaroon na tayo ng mga cases doon sa ating mga kasama at member ng mga vaccination team, at kahapon nag-mandatory testing tayo. May nagpa-positive sa bawat grupo,” Panganiban said.
A source inside the City government who asked to for anonymity confirmed that atleast 20 staff of the City Covac Team, with different members coming from CHO and other covid-defense agencies, tested positive for coronavirus via antigen-testing recently.
“20. Pero hindi lang sa CHO ito. Kasi halo-halo ang members ng Covac kaya suspended muna to give way for precautionary measure,” he said.
Meanwhile, Panganiban stated that all vaccine operations within the city would be suspended starting today, January 25, until January 30.
“Magri-resume tayo sa Monday next week,” Panganiban said.
With this, Panganiban detailed that vaccination schedules for certain barangays in the city within this week would be delayed to give way for precautionary measure.
“After ng testing kahapon, nagkonsulta po kami, nag usap-usap po kami ng mga leaders ng sa vaccination. At the same time tumawag din po kami sa mga taga-IMT, kina Doc Dean, ayun din ang kanilang advice. Mag-stop operation muna tayo para hindi ma-compromise ‘yung vaccination program natin,” Panganiban said.
Meanwhile, Panganiban informed that most of their staff who tested positive for the coronavirus only experience mild symptoms, as they are already fully vaccinated.
“Wala silang mga symptoms, kung mayroon man konting supon, konting ubo lang, ayun lang tapos eventually after 2-3 days gumagaling rin,” Panganiban said.