CHURCH VAX SITE. The Archdiocesan Shrine and Parish of St. Jude Thaddeus of Naga City has offered its premises as a vaccination site to help the government achieve 70-percent population protection against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). It will continue to serve as an inoculation site for the pediatric population on Nov. 30, 2021 as part of the National Vaccination Days from November 29 to December 1. (Photo courtesy of DOH-Bicol) LEGAZPI CITY - The Department of Health-Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD) in Bicol is encouraging faith-based organizations (FBOs) and establishments to assist in the government vaccination program by either setting up inoculation sites in their premises or strengthening demand generation to provide additional protection to their members. In an interview on Tuesday, Noemi Bron, DOH-Bicol Health and Promotion chief, said the Archdiocesan Shrine and Parish of St. Jude Thaddeus of Naga City had offered its premises as vaccination site starting last November 20 to help the government achieve the desired 70-percent population protection against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). "Meetings with Christian Church in Baao and Diocese of Legazpi are already conducted as they also show interest to help," she said. Inoculation of the pediatric population will continue at the vaccination site of St. Jude Thaddeus on November 30 as part of its participation in the government's National Vaccination Days from November 29 to December 1. Bron said DOH-Bicol's vaccination program employs a whole-of-society and whole-of-government approach. "The contribution of the FBOs positively impacts the goal of the DOH in achieving population protection," she noted. Some 408 adult parishioners were inoculated at St. Jude Thaddeus over the weekend, which exceeded the target of 368. Notably, no adverse events following immunization were recorded at the site. Volunteers made up the vaccination team, including doctors and other healthcare workers from the Bicol Medical Center (BMC), Universidad de Sta. Isabel, Naga Imaging Center Cooperative Doctors Hospital, and the Philippine Coast Guard. The parish vaccination activity headed by Fr. Francis Tordilla was graced by the Naga City Mayor Nelson Legacion, Dr. Rey Millena, the provincial DOH Officer of Camarines Sur, and Dr. Nathalie Lazaro of the BMC Public Health Unit. (PNA) }