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Written by: Almira U. Caudal

With vaccines becoming more widely available, all employees of the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA) are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19. As part of its initiative to support the government’s goal of immunizing Filipinos against COVID-19 and aid in the country’s recovery, PNVSCA Executive Director Donald James Gawe encouraged all staff, Contract of Service (COS) and Agency-hired employees including their family members, to make the important decision of getting vaccinated.

PNVSCA started collaborating with DILG, DOH and other government agencies in conducting town hall meetings in March 2021 to disseminate relevant facts and timely information to officials and staff about COVID-19 vaccine deployment plan.  It was a successful collaboration that became an opportunity to raise and address questions regarding vaccination deployment and the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccines.

PNVSCA staff started participating in the online registration and massive roll out of vaccination in their respective Local Government Units (LGUs) in April 2021. Based on the vaccination status monitoring of PNVSCA staff, 100% or all 27 staff and 5 Agency-hired employees are all vaccinated as of August 2021. Moreover, considering the prioritization framework for COVID-19 vaccination based on the World Health Organization (WHO) Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on immunization, majority of the staff belongs to the Priority Eligible A4 or the frontline personnel in essential sectors, including uniformed personnel, and Priority Eligible A3 or persons with comorbidity. PNVSCA officers and staff received vaccines from Sinovac, AztraZeneca, and Johnson & Johnson.

Topmost photo (L-R) Ms. Danica Pacardo, Mr. Kenneth Siruelo, Ms. Carleen Marie Salas; Second Row (L-R) Mr. Richard Pamplona, Mr. Raymart Maruquez; Bottom photo (L-R) Ms. Rizalene Velacruz and Ms. Sheena Alcala with other PNVSCA staff and Agency drivers who participated in the massive roll out of vaccines in Quezon City last July 2021.
PNVSCA Staff register on-site for the COVID-19 vaccine on June 18, 2021 at SM North EDSA Quezon City.
(L-R) Ms. Marie Dearmaine Ramos, Mr. Roque Cantong, Mr. Jhan Bhenedict Gamba and Mr. Ace Earvin Arellano wait for their vaccination IDs immediately after receiving the vaccine at SM North EDSA Quezon City.

Furthermore, several PNVSCA staff believed that taking part in this nationwide vaccination and immunization program means protecting oneself and the people around them. Ms. Rizalene Velacruz, Volunteer Service Officer I of the Program Coordination, Monitoring and Evaluation Division (PCMED), expressed during the vaccination day that, “The vaccine can keep me and my family from getting and spreading the virus”. For Ms. Marie Dearmaine Ramos, Administrative Assistant II of the Administrative, Financial and Management Division (AFMD), “I am grateful to those who conducted town hall meetings on the importance and efficacy of vaccines. It really helped me understand why I should get this vaccine”.

PNVSCA Executive Director Gawe expressed his appreciation to the staff and all COS and Agency-hired workers’ active participation in the fight against COVID-19. He emphasized the commitment of the agency and the entire bureaucracy to ensure a COVID-19-free workplace.

The author is currently the Administrative Officer I of the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency.

Visit PNVSCA website (www.pnvsca.gov.ph) and PNVSCA Facebook (facebook.com/PNVSCA) for volunteer stories and information on volunteering.