Seminarians, Personnel Vaccinated

BAGUIO CITY— Fifty Seminarians and two personnel of Casiciaco Recoletos Seminary received their jabs of vaccine during a vaccination drive held at the Recoletos Gym of the seminary last August 20, 2021.

The Seminarians and personnel received the first dose of the Sinovac vaccine.

“We really need the vaccine,” said Rev. Fr. Bob Cabanag, OAR, the Prefect of Discipline of the Postulants. “We cannot afford to have another lockdown,” he added.

Recently, the local government unit imposed a fourteen-day lockdown on the seminary following the contraction of the COVID-19 virus of five seminarians last July 30, 2021, the second time in the same year after five seminarians also tested positive last January 28.

As consequence of the said lockdown, the seminary revised the school calendar ending the former formation year 14 days late of the expected date.

On Vaccines and Prejudices

Consisting of a doctor, a pharmacist, five nurses, and eight health workers, the 15 members of the Asin Health Center facilitated the vaccination of the seminarians. Four officers of the Philippine Airforce also helped in the vaccination drive.

Leading the health group is Dr. Ana Marie Banta, MD a medical officer IV of the facility who shared the difficulties of their present work.

“We only have a limited supply of vaccines; that is why we follow the guideline set by the DOH. We have received backlash from people who also want to receive it (vaccine) but there is nothing we can do because we have priority groups,” she said.

On the one hand, the health workers face the constraint of the limited supply of vaccines and on the other hand, the prejudices that inhibit people from taking it.

“There are also prejudices about the vaccine. Yet, we always tell people that they are all the same. We also echo what the DOH would say that ‘the best vaccine is what is available,’” Dr. Banta added.

“There are other institutions who are requesting for this kind of drive and we are now communicating with these communities,” the medical officer revealed.

All religious formators were already fully vaccinated last March and May while the rest of the personnel had their first dose of the vaccine last July.