ILOILO – The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) has endorsed this province as among the priority areas for the country’s vaccination program against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
“Please be informed that we have favorably endorsed your request to the National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) chaired by Undersecretary Myrna C. Cabotaje for their evaluation and appropriate action,” said Secretary Carlito Galvez, IAFT chief implementer and vaccine czar, in a letter to Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. dated June 8.
“Rest assured that the National Task Force on COVID-19 is committed to providing free, safe and effective vaccines for all, particularly to our frontliners,” he added.
This came after Defensor told Galvez that the province and city of Iloilo “are contiguous with one another and are of the same economic importance.”
Iloilo City is a priority program in the national vaccination program.
“We cannot segregate Iloilo City from Iloilo province as we are of the same economic importance and we have the same number of cases which are increasing at an alarming level, considering that we are closely contiguous with one another,” Defensor wrote Galvez last month.
Defensor also told Galvez that this province is ready to accept an allocation of Pfizer vaccines as it can comply with its storage requirements.
The University of the Philippines in the Visayas (UPV) has agreed to allow the province to use their storage facility capable of complying with Pfizer’s requirements.
Galvez lauded Defensor for his efforts in managing the spread of COVID-19 here.
“We laud your dedication and commitment in serving your constituents and showcasing innovation and ingenuity in managing the cases in your Province,” Galvez wrote Defensor.
As of June 9, a total of 69,134 Ilonggos have already received their first dose of vaccines, data from the Provincial Health Office (PHO) showed. Some 20,443 were completely vaccinated.
Of the vaccinees, 34,586 received Oxford AstraZeneca while 34,548 got the Sinovac’s CoronaVac.
Healthcare workers vaccinated reached up to 24,421, senior citizens – 26,960 and persons with comorbidities – 17,667. Thirteen individuals belonging to the A4 priority list (essential workers) also received their first dose.
More Ilonggos are expected to avail themselves of COVID-19 vaccines when the jabs the province earlier procured arrive.
In early December, the province placed an order for 270,000 doses of AZD1222 Vaccine from AztraZeneca. An initial budget of P95 million was allotted. (With a report from PIO Capitol/PN)
