ILOILO – The provincial government started administering yesterday coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) booster shots to around 300 healthcare workers.
The rollout was conducted at the West Visayas State University (WVSU) Cultural Center and spearheaded by Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. together with WVSU president, Joselito Villaruz; Commission on Higher Education (CHED) supervisor, Arnold Anceno; and provincial administrator and WVSU Board of Regents member, Atty. Dennis Ventilacion.
Around 400 students also availed themselves of free vaccine in the pediatric inoculation.
Pfizer shots were used in both the booster and minors’ vaccination.
“We have been campaigning asta sa masarangan naton. Sa aton kasimanwa magpabakuna na kag indi magpili sang bakuna kay pareho lang ‘na sila nga maayo tanan,” said Defensor.
He stressed that the more individuals get vaccinated, the lesser restrictions the province will have.
The province is under Alert Level 2, where the general rule is that all activities and establishments are allowed at 100 percent venue capacity except for those belonging to 3Cs (close that involved crowds, close contact and close venues) that are allowed to operate at 50 percent venue capacity (indoor) and 70 percent capacity (outdoor).
Defensor earlier said he would prioritize the booster shots for medical workers in provincial government-run hospitals.
As of Nov. 19, a total of 481,736 individuals – 33.25 percent of the target population – have been fully vaccinated. They were healthcare workers (73,458), senior citizens (101,416), persons with comorbidities (120,167), uniformed personnel (121,448), indigent (44,610), and others (44).
The province targets to inoculate a total of 1,448,757 individuals to reach herd immunity./PN