Belo Medical Group (BMG) CEO and Medical Director, Dr. Vicki Belo, confirms ordering doses of Moderna (mRNA-1273) vaccine to be given for free for all employees of the Belo Medical Group (Belo Medical Group, Inc.) and Belo Essentials (Intelligent Skin Care Solutions, Inc), plus an allocation in equal numbers to be given to those who have no access to vaccines. This is to help keep the workplace and our clinics safe from COVID-19. BMG is targeting to distribute the vaccine by June 2021, after all the necessary approvals and permits are in place to ensure the safety of the people. This initiative is made possible through a Tripartite Supply Agreement between the government, International Container Terminal Services, Inc., and the Belo Medical Group.

BMG stays true to its “people before profit” principle. In fact, in the advent of the pandemic in Manila last March 2020, the company took the initiative to temporarily close down their clinics for the safety of their patients and employees, even before the government announced a country-wide lockdown. 

“My employees are like family. We would like to give them the security of not getting severely sick from COVID-19 by providing them with vaccines. I understand how stressful it is to go to work and always worry about getting the virus. At least we can take some of the worry and anxiety away. A happy, healthy, worry-free workplace benefits not only our employees but our patients as well.” said Dr. Belo. She also believes that the vaccination of all Belo employees will improve the customer experience at the clinic. “You cannot give what you don’t have. So if our staff feel unsafe and afraid, how can they make patients feel safe? How can they make them feel comfortable and cared for? You can only give what you have inside you,” she adds.

According to BMG’s General Manager, Agnes Lopez, BMG ordered double the amount they need for their employees as they intend to reach out to people who don’t have access to the vaccine – to those who are more disenfranchised or don’t have work. 

“I realized as a doctor that the longer we take to kill this virus, the more it will keep mutating to more dangerous varieties. So I think companies should all get together to be able to give enough doses for the whole country. So for companies that are able, whatever you can get for your employees, at least double that and if you can afford it, maybe even triple that so that we can share with everybody else who doesn’t have the means to get vaccination. Otherwise, this thing will never end. It’s really for everybody’s sake that we have to reach out and try to give everybody vaccinations,” adds Dr. Belo. 

Safety In Clinic 

BMG keeps its 15 clinics across the Philippines including the Belo Head Office in San Juan, Greenhills, safe and COVID-free while the vaccine is on its way. 

“While waiting for the vaccine to arrive, we make sure that our employees and patients are safe in-clinic by observing the proper safety protocols. We also made sure that the air our patients breathe inside our clinics are COVID-free and everything you touch is well-sanitized,” according to Dr. Belo.  

Belo Clinics are known for its DFS-equipped Air Intellipure systems installed in every room and common areas in all branches, and are sanitized every 30 minutes. All frontliners are tested every 2 weeks, to make sure that everyone is safe and well. Usual safety protocols also apply- all the staff and doctors are safely suited in our own PPE (Click here to order your Belo Genius Gear), face masks, goggles, and face shields.

Patients will also be asked to accomplish a COVID-19 screening prior arrival, and will need to do a foot bath, and social distancing when they get to the clinic. The chairs and furniture are permanently apart by two meters, and are safely wrapped in plastic for faster cleaning and sanitation. 

Read more about how BMG keeps its clinics COVID-19 free. If you would like to book an appointment, click here to see the complete list of Belo clinics near you.