Believing that readiness is the key to its COVID-19 vaccination game plan, the City Government of Valenzuela preps up another pandemic response with VCVax, the City’s very own COVID-19 Vaccines Rollout Plan, with its first vaccine simulation at Malinta Elementary School in Barangay Malinta today, January 26.

Starting early in what could be the “country’s largest mass immunization program”, Valenzuela City simulates the actual step-by-step procedure on how the COVID-19 vaccination program will be done in Valenzuela City which will have 17 VCVax vaccination sites and 76 vaccination teams spread across its jurisdiction.

“Itong simulation na ito is a confidence building exercise. Gusto naming ipakita sa lokal na mamamayan namin na the local government not only purchased [the vaccines] but moreso pinagaaralan natin yung rollout… Ayaw natin na nandiyan na ‘yung bakuna tsaka lang natin pa-planuhin lahat ito,” Valenzuela City Mayor REX Gatchalian shared during the simulation.

The local government also recently signals the online vaccine registration for VCVax through its ValTrace website yesterday and as of today, it now has around 4,000 individuals registered – citing the developments “encouraging” but still a long way to go to reach the target of 320,000 Valenzuelanos or 71% of its local population excluding individuals 17 years old and below.

“From my experience, kung ganoon kalaking endeavor… Ganoon kalaking pondo ang ginugol –   PhP 150 million in local funds… Dapat perfection, hindi pwedeng masayang… Do it [simulation] earlier para makita na namin kung saan yung mga potential na problema,” Mayor REX affirmed.

Maximizing its existing capacities, Valenzuelanos can simply log in to their accounts at www.valtrace.appcase.net for the vaccine registration. Information on medical conditions such as allergies, comorbidities, and history of COVID-19 infection must be updated by the individual and the vaccination site can also be assigned upon online registration.

ValTrace, Valenzuela’s COVID-19 Contact Tracing App, enables the use of QR codes to enter establishments in the City for contact tracing purposes. For its vaccination rollout plan, Valenzuela City uses the same platform and the same registered QR codes for the registration and validation process to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

At the vaccination sites, patients must adhere to the health protocols and will be assisted for the registration and validation process. Counseling/final consent will then be done by the City Health Office which will include the signing of the consent form.

After counseling, patients will be screened again to confirm their eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine. Once done, nurses can now safely administer the vaccine and issue the VCVax passport, confirming that they have received their first dose and will have one (1) more remaining dose to complete the vaccine.  

The entire process from the registration to the vaccination takes around 12-15 minutes following the recommended timeframe of the Department of Health (DOH) on preparing a vaccination site.

The post-vaccination area will also be manned by the City Health Office for monitoring of the patient’s blood pressure and possible side effects for 30 minutes to an hour before discharge.

Considered as something new and uncertain, whether or not to get the COVID-19 vaccine is still a lingering question in the minds of not only Valenzuelanos but the Filipino public. But with proper education and the right information, Mayor REX believes that the VCVax COVID-19 Vaccines Rollout Plan can help convince people that getting the vaccine will not only protect oneself but also protect one’s family and the entire community.

“Ang mga concern naman nila may mga agam-agam, may mga katanungan… Hindi naman ‘No’ eh. Sa kanila, with reservations. Naniniwala ako na kapag pinaliwanagan nang mabuti, masagot ng mabuti yung mga tanong nila, I think kakalma naman… The more information that gets to the hands of the people, the better it is to clarify kung ano man yung agam-agam na mayroon sila,” Mayor REX stated.

Click “Vaccination Registration” at www.valtrace.appcase.net and you’re on the road to be a #BakunadongValenzuelano!