The maiden rollout of “VAX-i” has catered 428 market vendors of three leading public markets in Bacolod City, namely Libertad Public market where 124 were inoculated; Central Market where 190 where inoculated; and Burgos Public market where 114 were inoculated.

This pioneering concept, believed to be the first-of-its-kind initiated by a local government unit in the country, intends to vaccinate all vendors as well as public transport drivers, who cannot leave their workplaces to line up for hours at mass vaccination sites, otherwise, they will have no income for the day to buy food for their families.

Bacolod City mayor Evelio Leonardia said it is not only an innovative approach but also to encourage more Bacolodnons to get vaccinated to fast-track efforts at achieving herd immunity.

"If Muhammad cannot come to the mountain, let the mountain come to Muhammad.  It is the LGU's responsibility to bring its services easily accessible to the people,” Leonardia said during the maiden trip of the  VAX-i.

Aside from the VAX-i going around, Bacolodnons belonging in the A1-A3 category can avail of a Drive-Thru vaccination at the 5th Floor of Ayala Malls Capitol Central where doctors, nurses and health workers are also stationed to conduct vaccinations.

Pre-registered healthcare workers, senior citizens, and persons with comorbidities who wish to avail of the Drive-Thru approach will need to bring a screenshot of their online registration, government-

issued ID with their Bacolod address, and their own pen.

“Our goal is to make the vaccination program more accessible to everyone so we can achieve herd immunity and eradicate COVID-19 as fast as possible," Leonardia said.

Stepping up the vaccination roll out a notch higher, the local government is set to hold graveyard shift vaccination for those working in the BPOs and call center who reports to work at night.

This, on top of the vaccination teams who already conducted mass vaccination in