DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, Aug. 20 (PIA) -- Dumaguete City has started vaccinating individuals under the priority group A5 (indigent population) against COVID-19 even as the immunization for those under the A1, A2, A3, and A4 groups continues.

However, A5 residents will be listed under the quick substitution list of their respective barangays.

They shall only be called to the vaccination site if those in the original masterlist of the given day will be absent, thus the need to be replaced with substitutes under the A5 category of the same barangay.

This is in response to the directive of Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo to fast-track the COVID-19 vaccination rollout with the arrival of additional vaccines that he requested from the national government.

As of Aug. 18, about 35,930 doses of Sinovac, Janssen, Astrazeneca, Moderna, and/or Pfizer jabs were used to inoculate around 21,201 eligible residents.

Some 642 qualified residents were inoculated on Aug. 19 in the two vaccination sites at Robinson Mall and Pulantubig Gymnasium.

The City Health Office (CHO) is reminding eligible residents to register online thru this new link http://bit.do/ResbakunaDumaguete or fill up the forms endorsed by the barangay health workers.

Their names will be included in the masterlist for vaccination and to wait for the call from the CHO confirming their vaccination schedule and site.

Only those registered and with confirmed schedule will be allowed in the vaccination sites to avoid overcrowding. (JCT/PIA7 Negros Oriental with reports from CPIO)