MANDALUYONG CITY -- The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) soft launched its Bakuna Center in SM Olongapo Downtown last July 8, 2021.

PRC staff and volunteers successfully vaccinated 44 individuals with Moderna during the dry run.

The PRC Olongapo Chapter partnered with SM to convert the cinema inside SM Olongapo Downtown into a Bakuna Center. Aside from the Red Cross staff and volunteers, there were also observers from Olongapo City Health Office during the dry run.

“The dry run last Thursday was indeed a success, we opened the Bakuna Center at 1 pm, allowing only 10 people at a time. Also, we practiced social distancing by keeping everyone 2 seats apart from one another," said PRC Olongapo Chapter Administrator Vilma Feji.

"The Red Cross aims to establish more Bakuna Centers around the country as we stand to provide hope for the most vulnerable especially in this time of the pandemic," said Chairman and CEO Sen. Richard Gordon.

Present in the dry run were PRC Olongapo Chapter Administrator Vilma Feji, PRC Clinical Services Coordinator Noel Bernardo, and PRC Health Services Representatives Ellen Grace Ledesma and Samantha Narvaez.

Right now, the PRC Bakuna Center in SM Olongapo Downtown is waiting for its CBCR (COVID-19 Bakuna Center Registry) number before it can open to the public. Once it opens, the local government unit of Olongapo City and PRC National Headquarters will be providing the vaccines. (Philippine Red Cros)