DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, Aug. 24 (PIA) -- Negros Oriental recorded a 20% accomplishment in its vaccination rollout for the A2 priority group as of Aug. 23.  

This was reported by Assistant Provincial Health Officer and Provincial Inter-Agency Task Force (PIATF) Incident Ground Commander Dr. Liland Estacion said this in her virtual presscon on Aug. 23.

This means that around 26,267 out of the 133,317 senior citizens in the masterlist have received their first dose or completed their second dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

Estacion urged the public to help the government in convincing senior citizens to get vaccinated.

“I encourage those people na naay kaila for the A2 na ato pabakunahan. I think naa pa gud na daghan especially in the municipalities and other cities (I ask the public to encourage those they know who are under the A2 category to get vaccinated. I know there are still many out there in the cities and municipalities),” Estacion said.

She also encouraged city and municipal health units to hold vaccination campaigns in every barangay so that they could reach out to more senior citizens.

“There are only a few local government units (LGUs) na moadto sa ila barangay. Usually naa ra sa ila own (vaccination site). Why not make mobile vaccination centers in your area? Do not only focus in your poblacion area (There are only a few LGUs that go down to their barangays. Most of them usually do it in their own vaccination sites. Why not make mobile vaccination centers in your area? Do not only focus in the barangays in the town proper),” Estacion added.

Meanwhile, the PIATF already granted vaccine incentives to individuals under the A4 category or those who are working in the essential sectors, where they could get vaccinated as long as they can bring a senior citizen who is also willing to take the vaccine.

The move was done so that the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) can boost its vaccination drive among senior citizens and at the same time, accommodate persons under the A4 category who are willing to take the vaccine.

Estacion earlier said the mass vaccination at the Lamberto Macias Sports Center conducted by the IPHO is not yet officially catering to the A4 priority group.

However, some LGUs including Dumaguete City, have started giving vaccines to individuals under the A4 category. 

The assistant provincial health officer clarified that there is a directive from the Regional Vaccination Operations Center (RVOC) wherein vaccines acquired through the COVAX Facility are only intended for A1, A2, and A3 categories. 

The PIATF has already sent a resolution to the Regional IATF requesting them to allow the IPHO to officially roll out the vaccines to persons under the A4 category. 

Overall, the province has logged an 11% accomplishment in its vaccination rollout covering A1 to A4 categories. 

A total of 25,420 have been inoculated for A1; 15,450 for A3; and 22,111 for A4. (RAL/PIA7 Negros Oriental)