WV to get more vaccines, guv says

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said the national government has assured Western Visayas officials that the region is being considered as priority area in the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, due to the surging cases, especially in Iloilo City.

The governor said this was the assurance of vaccine czar Carlito Galvez during a zoom meeting Monday with Western Visayas officials.

Lacson said Negros Occidental may expect the arrival of more vaccines on a regular basis.

The governor also said the provincial government has used up 90 percent of the Sinovac doses, and 43 percent of AstraZeneca vaccines received by the Capitol from the national government.

“We just have to roll out whatever is in our possession,” the governor said.

Lacson also said they were told by Health Secretary Francisco Duque that the simultaneous vaccination of those in the priority A1, A2, A3, and A4 categories will now be allowed, unlike before when a protocol set by the World Health Organization was strictly followed, to avoid losing the vaccine donations.

“I think that is good. If there are senior citizens who will continue to refuse getting vaccinated, then we will go to the A4 category, that is, the essential workers. I think that will increase our rate of inoculation,” he added.

Meanwhile, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said that only 13 of the 52 capitol employees infected with COVID-19 remain at the Mambukal quarantine facility.

He said 39 have recovered and are back to work at the capitol.