By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson is currently urging the national government to allow them to begin the inoculation of other economic frontline workers or those under the A4 category.

Lacson said he is calling for the A4 vaccination to begin not only in the National Capital Region (NCR) but also nationwide as a substantial number of individuals under the A4 category already signified their willingness to be vaccinated.

The governor’s call was also in response to a request made by several mayors in the province, especially the town of Manapla, wherein Mayor Manolet Escalante reported only 1,000 of the town’s residents under A1 (frontline health workers), A2 (senior citizens) and A3 (persons with comorbidities) categories have been vaccinated against COVID-19.

Escalante pointed out the Department of Health should already allow the vaccination of the other categories for a faster rollout as the supply of vaccines in the country is no longer a problem.

Lacson also presented data as of June 22 showing the province’s vaccine rollout had a 96.5 percent success rate.

“I always say we have to be ready because it’s the national government saying that maybe by August we will have a lot of vaccines so we can expect more vaccines,” he added.

Earlier, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said they are still  finding it difficult to convince the other residents of the province to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Diaz said some local government units in the province are reporting that some of their constituents are still hesitant in getting the vaccine, especially those who haven’t yet experienced getting inoculated for other diseases.

“There are residents here who haven’t experienced getting vaccinated, and some even don’t believe in the effectiveness of vaccines,” Diaz said/DGB, WDJ