“Vaccines are one of our most important tools for preventing outbreaks and keep the world safe,” -Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus – WHO Director-General

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, different industries were forced to shut down operations and people are still struggling to make ends meet.

Hence, laboratories and manufacturers all-over the world continuously searched for ways to solve this global pandemic.

And in 2021, vaccines were developed and started rolling out all-over the world to resolve and eliminate the deadly malady.

When the vaccine roll-out started in the Philippines, the Claver LGU proactively looked for means to secure vaccines for its people.

The LGU implemented some measures to prepare its health care system for the vaccination drive such as dutifully conducting an IEC campaign on the importance of the vaccination; procured ultra-low temperature freezer for Pfizer-BioNtech vaccines; and, partnered with mining companies and processing plant for the procurement of additional vaccines.

Taganito Mining Corporation, a subsidiary of Nickel Asia Corporation, shared PhP 15.6 million from its 2021 Social Development and Management Program for the procurement of 20,724 doses of Moderna vaccines. The vaccines are on top of the regular vaccines distributed by the national government.

Because of the collective efforts of the LGU and the mining industry, on January 7, 2022, Claver successfully achieved the herd immunity with 25,550 individuals inoculated.

This is equivalent to 100.5 percent of the target population and more than 70 percent of the total population, making Claver the first municipality in the province of Surigao del Norte to achieve herd immunity. Further, with the signal from DOH, Claver started inoculating the young population – aged 5-17 years old.

With a heart ready to extend assistance, the vaccination drive of the LGU did not stop in the municipality, but was extended to other municipalities in the province.

Last March 15-17, 2022, a total of 709 individuals were inoculated from the municipalities of General Luna, Pilar and San Isidro in Siargao Islands during the Mobile Vaccination Outreach Program.

This was spearheaded by Claver’s Rural Health Unit and Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office, and, in partnership with NAC-TMC and other companies. Food packs courtesy from Claver LGU, and TMC calendars were distributed to those who were vaccinated.