By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
The first batch of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines procured by the provincial government of Negros Occidental is set to arrive this month.
Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said they are expecting the arrival of 3,500 doses of British-made AstraZeneca vaccine possibly around July 15.
Diaz said they have been promised by the supplier that they would deliver the vaccines on the said date, however, the delivery will only consist of around 3.5 percent of the 100,000 doses the provincial government have ordered.
The provincial official said the supplier had explained that the supply of AstraZeneca vaccines is very limited, and because of this Diaz said he would pass a recommendation to Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson to distribute the vaccines only to local government units which are near Bacolod City.
He said the initial doses they will receive are going to be used for the inoculation of city and municipal hall employees in order to attain a safe working environment for them.
Based on data released by the provincial government as of July 2, a total of 35,481 Negrenses were already inoculated with the AstraZeneca vaccines./DGB, WDJ