BACOLOD CITY – The city government and Negros Occidental will receive AstraZeneca vaccines from the Department of Health (DOH) Region 6 in Iloilo City Friday.
This was disclosed by Secretary Vince Dizon, vaccination testing czar, who was in Negros Occidental for the ceremonial vaccination of the Chinese-made Sinovac vaccine on medical frontliners at the Teresita Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City Thursday.
Dizon said that 10,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines have been delivered in Western Visayas Thursday and will immediately be distributed upon the orders of Secretary Carlito Galvez, vaccine czar. Dizon said that senior healthcare workers will be prioritized in the first batch of AstraZeneca vaccines.
Dr. Jane Juanico, Infectious Disease Cluster head of DOH Region 6, said that 370 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines will be allocated for the province and another 1,560 doses will be provided here.
Juanico also said that 990 doses of additional Sinovac vaccines will arrive Friday for the province, following an initial 1,600 Sinovac vaccines that had been released to the province early this week.
She said that more vaccines were given to the city because of the big hospitals that cater to COVID-19 patients and Level 3 hospitals while the province has only four Level 1 and 2 hospitals that cater to COVID patients.
Bacolod initially received 6,300 doses of Sinovac vaccines last week.
Dizon said that during his visit in Panay Thursday, the acceptance of people who wants to get vaccinated is very high. “The demand is greater than supply. They need more, and we are very, very happy,” he added.
Dizon said the 10,000 doses for the region are already good for two doses.
Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson thanked the medical frontliners for their courage to lead the vaccination in the province, and for their contribution in this health crisis.