In this May 2021 photo, people are seen waiting for their turn to get vaccinated at a vaccination site at the SM Seaside City Cebu.
CEBU CITY, Philippines—In celebration of the Feast of the Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary, the Cebu City government is giving residents a chance to walk-in in vaccination sites here on Wednesday, September 8, 2021.
Doctor Jeffrey Ibones, the officer-in-charge of the City Health Department (CHD), said that at least 8 sites, including Ayala Center Cebu, SM City Cebu, SM Seaside City Cebu, Robinsons Galleria Cebu, Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino, UC Sambag II, and SWU Sambag II, will allow walk-in individuals.
This gives those who have taken time off today to celebrate the feast a chance to get vaccinated. It will also allow workers on their way or coming from work to drop by and get vaccinated.
Ibones said they took the opportunity to allow walk-ins on Wednesday because there is a problem with the system that texts individuals for their schedule.
“Naay gamay nga problema sa atong system mao na ang uban wala matextan. Mao na for today, pwede gyod kaayo sila mowalk-in, labi na katong wala matextan,” said the doctor.
(There’s a small problem with the system that’s why there are some who haven’t been texted. So for today. walk-in is allowed, especially for those who haven’t been texted.)
Ibones said the system may have failed because the city has been sending schedules to almost 10,000 individuals per day.
The city’s technical team is still fixing the system that is managed by a telecommunication company so that schedules can be sent to registered individuals as soon as possible.
He asked those who have registered at Pabakuna.gov not to worry as they will be accommodated. If they are not, they will be assisted in the registration area at vaccination sites.
The CHD is hoping to get more individuals to be vaccinated, especially that in the past week, they have noticed a decrease of at least 200 to 400 individuals per site.
The target of each site is to vaccinate at least 1,000 individuals.
The decrease was attributed to people refusing certain brands of vaccines, an act highly discouraged for locals who have no intention to travel within the foreseeable future.
Ibones encouraged the public to take the opportunity to get vaccinated today as walk-ins may no longer be allowed in the coming days when the text system will be fixed.
/bmjo
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