BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
All is set for the mass vaccination of Negros Occidental provincial government employees today at the Negros Residences, with 200 expected to receive their first dose from the Provincial Health Office team of vaccinators.
Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said yesterday that the mass vaccination will start at 8 a.m., and will be witnessed by Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and other provincial government officials.
Forty-six Capitol employees have tested positive for Covid-19, and more than 30 of them are still being quarantined at the Mambukal Mountain Resort facility in Brgy. Minoyan, Murcia.
Diaz said the vaccination of Capitol employees is voluntary.
“But we are campaigning for a maximum number of government employees to be vaccinated, to ensure that safety will be established in the workplace,” he added.
Diaz said he expects a disruption of work for several days. But he said the provincial government is now facilitating the establishment of internet services, through the Department of Information and Communication Technology, so that government workers can still work even while on quarantine.
Of the more than 3,000 Capitol employees, Diaz said about 1,000 will be vaccinated because the 2,000 others, who are medical frontliners, have already completed their two doses.
Another batch of Capitol employees are slated to be vaccinated next week.
The Progressive Alliance of Capitol Employees thanked Lacson for his concern about the welfare of government workers.
At least, they have an assurance against the pandemic, PACE president Renelo Lastierre said, noting that they are at risk while performing their jobs.*