Over 1k Ilokano medical, health workers receive COVID-19 vaccine
In light of the first-ever COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Ilocos Norte, more than 1,000 frontline health workers from different public and private hospitals have been inoculated with the vaccine, since the province received its first batch of Sinovac doses on March 5.
To date, a total of 596 vaccinees from the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital & Medical Center (MMMH&MC), 272 from Governor Roque B. Ablan Sr. Memorial Hospital (GRBASMH), 62 from the Laoag City General Hospital (LCGH), and 110 from selected non-government hospitals, were already given vaccine shot.
“Tuloy-tuloy yung vaccination natin mula noong March 6 to 8 sa mga identified public hospitals. Yung pangalawang batch ng Sinovac vaccines ay natanggap natin recently. 508 doses lahat. Ito ay para naman sa mga district hospitals at ibang private hospitals dito sa probinsiya,” Dr. Rogelio Balbag, Ilocos Norte Hospital and Management Council Executive Officer emphasized.
The vaccination for medical health workers from various district hospitals has rolled out earlier today. Meanwhile, senior citizen health workers will also be receiving Sinovac vaccine shots.
Aside from the Sinovac vaccine, Ilocos Norte has also received its first 492 doses of Aztrazeneca vaccines yesterday, which came from the donated vaccines to the country. Its first rollout will be conducted at GRBASMH and LCGH tomorrow.
“Ang mga bakunang ito ay nagmula pa lamang sa mga donasyon ng China at World Health Organization, sa pamamagitan ng National Government. Hindi pa ito ‘yong mga bakunang binili ng Provincial Government. Patuloy ang pakikipag-negotiate ni Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc sa mga national officials dahil gusto niya, kung maaari ay mabakunahan na rin agad ang lahat, lalo na yung mga nasa sektor ng transportasyon, turismo, midya, at iba pa,” Dr. Balbag remarked.
The Aztrazeneca vaccines purchased by the Provincial Government are expected to arrive in the province in the third quarter of this year. – Stewart C. Ocampo, PGIN-CMO
