BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The provincial government of Negros Occidental has started rolling out Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) at the Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital (TLJPH) in Silay City and the capitol-owned Negros Residences here yesterday morning.
Atty. Rayfrando Diaz, provincial administrator, said 340 Silay City residents were inoculated at the TLJPH, while 445 Talisay City, 35 Hinigaran and another 200 Silay City residents received their Pfizer jabs at the Negros Residences.
The vaccination process at the TLJPH went smoothly that they finished administering the vaccines around 2 p.m., Diaz noted.
The capitol official said the distribution of Pfizer vaccines would be until Friday, also the day specifically scheduled for the inoculation of government employees.
“At 1,000 [vaccinees] a day, we’ll be able to inoculate 5,000 people by Friday,” Diaz said.
Only half of the 1,950 vials of Pfizer vaccines (equivalent to 11,700 doses) would be utilized, as the other half will be saved up for the second dose 28 days after the first.
Diaz said some 315 residents from the towns of Manapla, Toboso, Calatrava, and Cadiz City will be inoculated at the TLJPH and another 672 from Murcia, Candoni, La Castellana, Don Salvador Benedicto, Valladolid, and La Carlota City will receive their jabs today at the Negros Residences.
Diaz said majority of the vaccine recipients were indigents and senior citizens. Their respective local government units provided them transportation.
He further added that the condition of those vaccinated with Pfizer is being monitored prior to being allowed to return home.
Meanwhile, Diaz said they are expecting the arrival of another 34,000 doses of CoronaVac vaccine manufactured by Sinovac Biotech this week./PN