NAGA CITY, Camarines Sur (PIA)— After two years of virtual and “non-traditional” ways of celebrating the Peñafrancia festival due to the COVID 19 pandemic, this city government and the Archdiocese of Caceres said it's all systems go now for this year’s celebration.

Part of the city’s preparation is to ensure that the great majority of Nagueños who are eligible for inoculation, have already received their COVID jabs before attending the line of events slated this September.

In line with this, the City’s Vaccination team, together with the City Health Office and Naga City Hospital has joined forces to strengthen its call for vaccination, particularly the administration of booster shots to those who will be joining the chain of events during the Peñafrancia festivity.

Naga City’s intensified campaign is also in consonance with the Department of Health’s  PinasLakas program and will serve as a precautionary measure to stop the further spread of the COVID virus.

COVID cases in the city and its neighboring municipalities spiked anew, following the many election-related events during the recent 2022 local and national elections.

City Mayor Nelson Legacion directed his vax team to facilitate the continuation of the LGU’s vaccination program and reach out to those who still have high hesitancy against the COVID vaccine.

In a memorandum dated Aug. 16, City Administrator Elmer S. Baldemoro said that they partnered with SM City Naga, from Wednesdays to Fridays, to accommodate residents who wished to be inoculated.

With its theme: "PinasLakas Ligtas Fiesta booster vaccination”, the city government rolled out its three-week inoculation drive which started last week, August 19 to 21, and will continue from August 24 to 28 from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM at SM City Naga on the abovementioned days. Week 3 covers August 31 until Sept.4. 

Baldemoro said that the Vaccination Center will be open to all residents from within and outside of the city

The city’s youth volunteers, particularly members of the Naga City Scholars Guild, and the Naga City Youth officials are also actively helping the city optimize the result of its vaccination drive.  (PIA5/Camarines Sur)