VIGAN CITY, July 21 (PIA) – A total of 3,400 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine procured by the city government of Vigan arrived on July 18 at the Vigan Culture and Trade Center. 

City Information Officer Anna Barbara Angelica Labelle Medina said this is just the partial delivery of AstraZeneca vaccine as the city government ordered a total of 120,000 doses for its 60,000 population. 

Medina said the vaccine was procured using the Annual Development Plan fund and the general fund of the city government. 

City Mayor Juan Carlo Medina said, “We are optimistic that as we are getting a steady supply of vaccines, more and more residents and non-resident workers will register for vaccination and commit towards slowly easing our way out of this pandemic. This is a testament of our pledge to serve. This is our token of gratitude. All for the welfare of every Bigueño.”

Mayor Medina was inoculated with his first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine on July 19 and urged everyone to do the same.

“I have waited for our purchase to assure you that vaccines can be trusted and it can save lives. However, I know that being vaccinated does not give me the license to forego my compliance to health protocols. Let us place our trust on these doses of hope and life,” he said. 

He added, “We are our own weapon. Hence, we should be equipped with our armor and sword. Our armor is the vaccine. Our sword is our compliance to health protocols. We wear these every day and we are sure we are given a chance to defeat this sickness and emerge victorious.”

During the Laging Handa Network Briefing News episode on Monday, Kapatagan, Lanao del Sur Mayor Raida Bansil Maglangit shared that she was also the first to get vaccinated in her municipality. 

“This is to encourage our constituents to get vaccinated as well and to prove that the vaccine is safe,” she said. 

Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) permitted the city government of Vigan to commence the vaccination of the A4 (workers) category. 

Mayor Medina said residents working in Vigan City, residents working outside Vigan City, and non-residents working in Vigan City are urged to pre-register by calling the Bakuna Hotlines at 0956-390-9069/0977-011-9550/0977-011-9559 or by filling out the Masterlisting Form  found in the city’s website: vigancity.gov.ph, and in its Facebook page: Vigan City PH.

“Those who have registered will be informed of their vaccination schedule immediately,” he said. 

A total of 15,915 doses of COVID-19 vaccines were administered to Bigueños under A1, A2, A3 and A4 priority groups using the vaccines procured by the city government and the allocation from the national government from March 5 until July 20. 

Of this number, 12,094 individuals were jabbed with their first dose while 3,821 got their second dose. 

It was in January this year when Vigan City signed a multilateral agreement with AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, the National Task Force Against COVID-19, and the DOH for the advance purchase of over 100,000 vaccines. 

“We ordered doses enough to vaccinate all residents of Vigan City aged 18 years old and above,” Medina said in a statement. (JCR/AMB/PIA Ilocos Sur)