Ayala Healthcare Holdings, Inc. (AC Health) launched a vaccination drive for its doctors and healthcare workers at QualiMed Hospital Sta. Rosa, the first hospital outside of Metro Manila to receive doses of the AstraZeneca vaccines. A total of 600 AstraZeneca and Sinovac vaccines were provided by the Inter-Agency Task Force and the Department of Health, in collaboration with the local government of Laguna. All 600 doses have been allocated to volunteer recipients.
The ceremonial vaccination led by Fernando Zobel de Ayala, President and COO of Ayala Corp., and Paolo Borromeo, President and CEO of AC Health, is a precursor to COVIDShield – AC Health’s largescale Covid-19 vaccination initiative in support of the Philippine National Vaccine Deployment Program.
The QualiMed Health Network was represented by Dr. Edwin Mercado, Vice-Chairman of QualiMed’s founding group Mercado General Hospital, Inc. (MGHI), and Jimmy Ysmael, President and CEO of the QualiMed Health Network. Also in attendance were Sec. Carlito Galvez, Jr., Chief Implementer of the National Taskforce Against COVID-19, Sec. Vince Dizon, Deputy Chief Implementer, Sta. Rosa Mayor Arlene Arcillas, Dr. Aleli Sudiacal, DOH Director III for Field Implementation and Coordination, and Dr. Noel Pasion, DOH Region IV Local Health Support Division Chief.
“The Ayala Group and AC Health have always been strong supporters of the National Vaccine Deployment Program. I am delighted to see all the efforts of the government and private sector come to fruition with the launching of the National Vaccine Program. Moreover, it has been encouraging to see other healthcare institutions support the IATF’s and DOH’s efforts. This gives me hope that in addition to providing much-needed protection for individuals, the vaccines will eventually reduce the burden to our healthcare system, stem disease transmission, and accelerate the path to recovery for our country,” said Fernando Zobel de Ayala, President and COO of Ayala Corp.
“We are honored and privileged to have been included by the DOH and IATF as first recipients outside of Metro Manila for the AstraZeneca vaccines, as well as some doses of the Sinovac vaccines. Our healthcare workers are extremely grateful to be given this additional layer of protection, and we hope this will also encourage more Filipinos to be vaccinated too. For our part, we look forward to contributing to the country’s vaccination efforts as we gear up for large-scale administration. We have identified and are setting up nearly 20 mega-sites nationwide with a goal to administer 1,000,000 doses by 2021,” said Paolo Borromeo, President and CEO of AC Health.