DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, Aug. 11 (PIA) -- More than 79,000 or 11% of the total target population in Negros Oriental have been fully vaccinated while 68,318 vaccinees received their one-dose jab as of Aug. 10. 

Provincial Inter-Agency Task Force (PIATF) Incident Commander Dr. Liland Estacion said the province targets to fully vaccinate around 879,365 to achieve herd immunity.

Estacion said more persons will be accommodated as 10,000 Sinovac and 14,900 Moderna vaccines arrived on Aug. 9 from the national Emergency Operations Center for the province, and another 5,000 doses of Sinovac for Dumaguete City.

With this, health workers, senior citizens, and those with co-morbidities who have not yet been vaccinated are encouraged to register or submit themselves for vaccination against COVID-19 amid the threat of the more transmissible Delta variant.

“We urge senior citizens to come any time and get vaccinated, as they are vulnerable to the virus and their vaccination rate remains very low,” said Estacion.

Qualified individuals are also encouraged to register with their respective local government units.

The provincial health official advised individuals not to be choosy with the vaccine brand, emphasizing the importance to be vaccinated immediately against the virus. 

Currently, the Integrated Provincial Health Office continues its vaccination at the mega vaccination center or at Macias Sports Center for the second dose of Sinovac and first dose for Moderna.

Vaccines donated under COVAX should be given only to persons under the A1, A2, A3, and A5 categories, but if the vaccine is purchased by the government, it would be given to those under the A4 category as well. 

“However, it is the discretion of the LGUs to use it because we cannot always wait for the qualified residents, but the instruction from DOH is we will not vaccinate the A4 yet until the target number of senior citizens or A2 will be increased,” said Estacion. (JCT/PIA7 Negros Oriental)