Bayambang Makes Use of Technology to Implement Vaccination Program

 

Bayambang Makes Use of Technology to Implement Vaccination Program

 

The advent of the “new normal” brought by the COVID-19 pandemic has called for the launching of innovations in order to help the people adapt while finding the balance between a safe citizenry and a developing economy. One of the most effective ways in which the municipality can do this is the massive vaccination campaign that aims to build herd immunity among the citizens, so the Local Government Unit of Bayambang has been directing its efforts towards encouraging the people to get vaccinated and providing safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines to Bayambangueños.

 

Here are some of the innovations and steps undertaken by the LGU-Bayambang for an efficient Vaccination Program in the municipality:

 

Creation of Task Force Bakuna

As early as January 7, 2021, LGU-Bayambang created a Task Force Bakuna to oversee the preparatory work in anticipation of the massive COVID-19 vaccination, and spearhead the implementation of the program once the vaccines arrive. The Task Force prepared the Vaccination Plan based on the guidelines from the Department of Health and communicates with the higher ups for the swift provision of vaccines in the municipality.

Once the Task Force was created, the LGU has been set in finding ways and means to make the vaccine freely available to all willing constituents.

 

IEC in Full Swing

This was immediately followed by a massive information-education campaign by the Task Force in the different barangays, with the help of the Rural Health Units, Public Order and Safety Office, and Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, on top of a special orientation program targeting all 77 barangay captains, an activity that was broadcast on Facebook Live for a wider audience reach.

 

Vaccination Program Started

In preparation for the first vaccination day, a simulation activity was conducted on March 25 involving top officials to assure the smooth flow of vaccination and to encourage would-be vaccinees in the face of hesitation from a huge majority of our constituents.

 

The local vaccination program officially began on March 30 at the Pugo Evacuation Center, which was converted into the LGU-Bayambang Vaccination Site. The site is conducive to assembling a large group of people without violating the minimum health protocols and without requiring people, especially seniors, to line up under the heat of the sun or in the rain. To ensure smooth flow, different areas were roped-off and labeled. There was a conspicuous registration area, vaccination area, post-vaccination observation area, counseling area, and so on.

 

As per IATF's policy, the medical frontliners, lay rescuers, and security forces were the first ones to be vaccinated. Photo-op sessions were conducted, and the photos were quickly published on the official Facebook page as further encouragement to the public.

 

Later on, Mayor Cezar Quiambao -- with full publicity -- had himself vaccinated to help convince the public to get themselves vaccinated.

 

ICTO Devises an Electronic Vaccination Management System to Speed Up Client Data Retrieval

The Information and Communications Technology Office created the Bayambang Electronic Vaccination Management System to automate the handling of COVID-19 vaccination data. RHU personnel are now taking advantage of the system using a QR code scanner to scan data printed in the vaccination cards, to pull up the existing record of a vaccinee and serve as basis for giving a 2nd dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. This small yet significant initiative helps fulfill the vision of Bayambang as a smart (i.e., digitally enabled) town.

 

The System encompasses 1. vaccinee profiling, 2. vaccinee screening 3. vaccine consent capturing, 4., vaccine dose recording and card printing, 5. vaccine administration database (daily accomplishment, progress), and 6. vaccine after-even following immunization incident management database.

 

Free Ride to and from the Vaccination Site

To control the influx of people and further encourage them to be vaccinated, the LGU provided free rides from the barangays to the Vaccination Site and back. This is also in consideration of Bayambangueños whose money for the fare going to the site can be used for their more pressing needs. 

 

Local transport groups, whose livelihood was severely affected by pandemic restrictions, were tapped as partners in this initiative. The LGU also makes use of the vehicles previously purchased for the different offices for more efficiency in public service.

 

The Task Force also assures that each vaccinee gets free snacks after the inoculation.

 

Advisories

Advisories are posted every now and then on our official Facebook page to update the people on how many people have been vaccinated so far according to the IATF's group prioritization, how many vaccine vials (and what brand) are available, and when the next vaccination dates will be.

 

Meanwhile, the Task Force Bakuna continues with its information drive in the barangays to convert hearts and minds and turn the previously unwilling into vaccine advocates who will actually show up at the site on vaccination day -- to help contribute to the much-desired herd immunity in the country at the soonest possible time.