Around 3,700 overseas Filipino workers (OFW), who are bound for abroad, including their immediate family members, availed of the two-week free vaccination rollout of the City Government of Davao at the Matina Town Square (MTS) compound.
On September 2, the vaccination program for the OFWs and their families culminated on a high note. The activity was made possible through the joint effort of different offices and agencies, including the Public Employment and Service Office (PESO), Dr. Joy Villafuerte, Councilor Pamela Librado, Councilor Danny Dayanghirang, Senator Ronald Bato Dela Rosa, and Marino party list, which partnered with the local government for the 10-day activity.
The vaccination express lane was opened upon the request of Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte after some OFWs raised concerns about the delay of their vaccination schedule. Some of them are flying abroad in a few months and their employers require them to get full doses before they can fly in.
The coverage of the vaccination express lane also included the migrant workersâ immediate family members â parents, spouses, children, and siblings 18 years old and above.
Lady Gorre, one of the OFWs and a vaccinee, in an interview on Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR), thanked the city government for the vaccination drive intended for migrant workers.
Gorre, an administrative assistant for six years in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, received her anti-Covid-19 vaccine on August 18 at MTS and will be having her second dose on September 15.
She bared that she went back to the Philippines last February and during her stay in Dubai, there were also strict regulations to contain the transmission of the deadly virus with hefty fines.
Gorre admitted that she was hesitant at getting vaccinated before because she was planning to get pregnant, but she realized its importance after having been educated about its benefits, especially in reducing the complications in case she gets positive.
âNaisip nako magpa-vaccine ko kay para man pod ni sa akong kaayohan, especially nga tigulang na akong parents para makalikay nalang pod sa COVID sa sakit, sa complications (I thought of getting vaccinated because this is not only for my own welfare but for my elderly parents to avoid the complications of the disease),â she said.
Meanwhile, she shared that the online pre-registration procedure for OFW vaccines was easy and during the day of her vaccination, the flow was pretty smooth and organized. Though there are lines and they needed to wait, however, the staff there were accommodating and the minimum public health protocol such as social distancing was observed.
After getting inoculated with Moderna vaccine, she experienced fever as a side effect of her vaccine, which lasted for two days, and muscle soreness on her arm. She just followed the advice of the health professional on what to take should she feel some side effects.
She further encouraged fellow Dabawenyos to also submit themselves for vaccination to help the government achieve herd immunity and protect themselves from the severe effect of the virus. CIO
