VOCES begins a new vaccination campaign against covid-19 – NotiCel – The truth as it is – Noticias de Puerto Rico – NOTICEL

VOCES Vaccination Center in Plaza las Americas.

Photo: File/Luis López

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“Refuerzo pa´ mi pueblo” is the new initiative of VOCES, Coalition for Immunization and Health Prevention, to make vaccines against covid-19 accessible to every corner of the island, joining the efforts of the Department of Health to continue protecting citizens from coronavirus infections.

The objective of “Refuerzo pa´ mi pueblo” is to encourage community and school leaders to identify the need to bring vaccination to their communities and contact VOCES to coordinate clinics in their area, as well as direct visits to homes to immunize people. bedridden, disabled or who do not have the resources to travel to the centers.

Since services began a little over a year ago, VOCES has managed to administer more than 715,913 vaccines, through the establishment of fixed centers in towns and shopping malls, as well as clinics, it was reported. However, despite the success achieved, there are still thousands of people who have not completed their primary series or who have not received a booster dose.

“Reaching people who have not yet been vaccinated or who do not have a booster vaccine becomes more important than ever, given the relaxation of government provisions, which allow us to get closer to normality. However, it is the responsibility of all citizens to reinforce prevention measures and, without a doubt, vaccination continues to be the most important tool to prevent covid-19”, said Lilliam Rodríguez, founder and CEO of VOCES.

Lemuel Martínez, president of the Infectious Diseases Society, joined the VOCES call for citizens to get vaccinated, since the covid-19 pandemic is not over and vaccination is the tool that will help us to be protected and avoid complications. .

“It is of the utmost importance that people with risk factors for progressing to severe covid disease (65 years of age, diabetics, lung, heart or cancer diseases) keep their vaccination status up to date. This implies receiving the booster dose or “booster”. For the first time, in two years of the pandemic, we have the tool available to prepare ourselves. We were emphatic about this importance before the arrival of omicron and we clearly saw the difference with those who received the booster dose. We have never been able to predict when the next wave of infections will emerge or when a new variant will emerge But at a time when we begin to interact in more environments without masks and with the proximity of Holy Week, we urge citizens to get vaccinated when it is their turn so as not to give it a truce to covid,” Martínez said.

As explained, family members or caregivers of bedridden people can also call VOCES and request the home vaccination service, both for patients and for other members of their family nucleus.

“The Health Department reports that 30% of students still need to receive their second doses, so we have extended pediatric vaccination schedules in all fixed centers on Thursday, Friday and Saturday to give access to children who are still missing . Likewise, we are calling for schools that need us to reach them to contact us,” said Ana Rodríguez, medical director of VOCES.

“For VOCES it is important that no citizen is left unvaccinated due to lack of access. Our staff and volunteers are available to continue this education, immunization, and prevention crusade. We continue to protect ourselves against covid-19”, Rodríguez concluded.

Community and school leaders, or citizens who want to receive the vaccine or serve as a liaison can contact VOCES at 787-789-4008 or write to the email [email protected].

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