CEBU CITY -- At least 13,000 healthcare workers (HCWs) in Central Visayas have completed their COVID-19 vaccination.
Data from the Department of Health-Central Visayas (DOH Region 7) showed that as of April 12, 13,405 healthcare workers have already received their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Some 59,856 medical workers have yet to receive their second dose, said Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, spokesperson and chief pathologist of DOH Region 7.
There were 73,261 HCWs who already received their first dose of the vaccine while 58,520 have yet to be vaccinated.
The region has 131,781 HCWs who are qualified to receive the vaccine as part of A1 group in the priority list of the government’s vaccination program.
Loreche said those who have completed their inoculation were injected with Sinovac Biotech’s CoronaVac.Loreche said there is no supply yet of AztraZeneca vaccines for the second dose.
So far, Central Visayas has received 104,160 doses of CoronaVac and 30,000 doses of AztraZeneca.
Loreche said the DOH Region 7 is still waiting for more supplies so it could start vaccinating senior citizens who are second in the priority list.
While inoculation for senior citizens has yet to start, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, 71, already received his first dose of COVID-19 vaccine last Tuesday.
Loreche confirmed that Palma and nine other elderly clergymen were vaccinated through the "Project: Balik Buhay," a program initiated by private sector to support of the government’s vaccination program.
Loreche said the Sinovac vaccines that were used to inoculate Palma and other elderly priests came from hospitals which had excess stocks.