By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
Negros Occidental provincial administrator Rayfrando Diaz yesterday revealed that the vaccinators in the province are in “high morale” as vaccine acceptability among the Negrenses had significantly grown.
Based on the latest data released by the provincial government, Diaz said the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine made by Johnson & Johnson remains the most highly sought after jab in the province with a utilization rate of 92 percent on Wednesday, July 28.
Diaz said a total of 2,400 vials were released with 2,218 utilized and 182 vials returned.
He noted that vaccinators from cities such as Talisay, Silay and Victorias even had to request an additional 500 vials due to the number of residents who have expressed their willingness to get vaccinated.
Yesterday, Diaz said they have increased the release to 2,826 vials of COVID-19 vaccines following the request of several local government units.
“Grabe ang demand for Johnson & Johnson, and we are happy that our senior citizens are the ones going out para magpangayo sang bakuna (The demand for Johnson & Johnson is great, and we are happy that our senior citizens are the ones going out in order to get vaccinated),” Diaz said.
He said the vaccinators are in high spirits, especially as data showed that some of the province’s top notchers in the number of vaccinations they have carried out want to remain at the top of the list.
He also said they have again reminded the local government units (LGUs) to finish the inoculation of those belonging under the A1 to A3 categories before proceeding to A4 or those tagged as frontline economic workers.
Diaz noted those tagged under the A4 category have the largest population that needs to be vaccinated.
“In fact some LGUs are now preparing,” Diaz said.
They are now studying the possibility of inoculating the A4 category per barangay instead, so as to keep the inoculation process organized and prevent people from overcrowding the vaccination centers.
“We will submit the proposal to Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and once he approves it, we’ll see,” the provincial administrator added./DGB, WDJ