By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
The provincial government of Negros Occidental has started its rollout of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines yesterday morning at the Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital (TLJPH) in Silay City and the Negros Residences in Bacolod City.
Atty. Rayfrando Diaz, provincial administrator, said 340 Silay City residents were designated for inoculation at the TLJPH, while 445 Talisay City, 35 Hinigaran, and 200 Silay City residents received their Pfizer jabs at the Negros Residences.
Diaz said at the TLJPH alone the process of inoculation was so quick, that by 2:00 p.m. they had already finished administering the vaccines to the designated individuals.
The provincial administrator said the distribution of Pfizer vaccines will last until Friday, July 2, with Friday specifically scheduled for the inoculation of government employees.
“At 1,000 [inoculations] a day, we’ll be able to inoculate 5,000 people by Friday,” he said.
Only half of the 1,950 vials of Pfizer vaccines will be used, as the other half will be saved up for the second dose which would happen after 28 days.
Diaz said 315 residents coming from the towns of Manapla, Toboso and Calatrava, and Cadiz City will be inoculated at the TLJPH and another 672 from Murcia, Candoni, La Castellana, Don Salvador Benedicto, Valladolid, and La Carlota City will receive their jabs today at the Negros Residences.
Diaz said majority of the vaccine recipients are indigents and senior citizens. Their respective local government units are the ones responsible for shuttling the individuals.
He further added the status of those vaccinated with Pfizer are being monitored prior to being allowed to return home.
Meanwhile, Negros Occidental is expecting the arrival of another 34,000 doses of CoronaVac vaccines coming from Chinese biotech company Sinovac this week.
Diaz added that Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and the Department of Health (DOH) are happy of the new system they used in distributing the vaccines, that the DOH have stated they will provide more allocations of vaccines for the province./DGB, WDJ