BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental’s Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson ordered the Provincial Health Office (PHO) to update its list of frontliners willing to be vaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Only 16 percent of the 22,000 frontliners who manifested interest to be vaccinated have received their second dose.
According to Lacson, in the coming days they would start administering second doses to at least 48 percent of the frontliners listed.
However, Lacson pointed out, this was still not enough. All frontliners should be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before the inoculation shifts to the next priority group – the elderly population.
He was glad that more Negrenses were now expressing interest to be vaccinated.
“For now it’s the senior citizens and those with comorbidities,” Lacson said.
He appealed to those who still have doubts on the efficacy or safety of the vaccines: they are missing the opportunity to protect themselves.
“Don’t hesitate. All experts say the vaccines are part of the bigger solution to solve this pandemic,” Lacson stressed.
Earlier, Negros Occidental received 3,080 vials of AstraZeneca vaccines. The vaccines were part of the two million shipments received by the country on Saturday from the COVAX facility./PN
