By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The provincial government of Negros Occidental is ready for round two of the National Vaccination Program scheduled to begin on December 15.

Provincial administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz said yesterday the strategy of the provincial government is to start its vaccination program before the start of vaccination of the national government.

“We are ramping up our own vaccination campaign because we believe that everyday until we reach our target should be busy as the national vaccination days,” Diaz said

He said that there is little impetus on those days because it is the mandate of the national government which has a bigger impact to the public.

He pointed out that it is a matter of awareness and convincing.

“We are ready for the logistical requirements of the local government units. When it comes to vaccinators we are ready to deploy and ready to respond to whatever needs of our local government units (LGUs),” he added.

Diaz admitted that Negros Occidental is still way off its target.

The province’s vaccination rate is at 50 percent, he said, adding that with the cooperation of LGUs and all their vaccinees they can reach it at the soonest time possible.

Negros Occidental topped Western Visayas during the three-day National Vaccination Days with 213,291 persons vaccinated, records from the Regional Vaccination Center of the Department of Health regional office showed.

The province also exceeded its target of 150,000 or a daily target of 50,000./DGB, WDJ