LAOAG CITY, July 20 (PIA) – The provincial government-procured COVID-19 vaccines have arrived in the country, as confirmed by Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc during the press briefing on July 19.

Manotoc said they are waiting for the Department of Health (DOH) to deliver the vaccines to the province.

As soon as the first tranche arrives, it will be immediately rolled out.

The sectors which will be prioritized in the immunization this week are economic essential workers such as ambulant and market vendors, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), tourism frontliners, Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) drivers (airconditioned units), and ambulant health workers.

“Dito sa AstraZeneca vaccines natin, we are now shortlisting yung mga ambulant and market vendors which we’ve seen na high-risk and we are also looking at our OFWs who want to go back abroad pero requirement ang bakuna,” he said.

Manotoc also mentioned vaccine czars in the Philippines for their contribution in the vaccine rollout in Ilocos Norte.

“I’d like to thank Sec. Carlito Galvez who has been responsive, helpful, and has pledged many vaccines for Ilocos Norte. And also to Sec. Vince Dizon who has been very helpful,” Manotoc said.

To expedite inoculation of eligible population, a school in Laoag City is identified as a mega vaccination site as the Provincial Task Force aims to vaccinate 1,000 to 1,200 residents daily specifically those from A1 to A4 priority groups.

“We are expecting vaccines this Thursday (July 22) kaya naman we are preparing Laoag City. We have visited Divine Word College of Laoag (DWCL) and Society of the Divine Word Fathers have approved and agreed that we will convert that to mega vaccination center for the entire province. Pero uunahin natin ang Laoag City dahil sila ang pinakamataas ang kaso,” Dr. Norman Rabago, Ilocos Norte vaccination Head, said.

In a research study conducted by OCTA Research, Laoag City is one of the local government units with highest coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection rates for the period of July 11 to July 17.

Its report shows that the number of COVID-19 cases in the capital city of Ilocos Norte increased to 46 from 25 in the previous week.

As of July 18, Laoag City has the most number of active cases in the province with 573, next to Batac City with 104, and San Nicolas with 76 active cases. The total number of confirmed cases in Ilocos Norte is now at 5,315. (JCR/VHS/MJTAB PIA Ilocos Norte)