BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
With the availability of 160,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine recently sent by the national government to the provincial government of Negros Occidental, Provincial Inter Agency Task Force action officer Rayfrando Diaz yesterday said that they are targeting 40,000 Negrenses per week, or 8,000 per day, to be inoculated.
Diaz said that the aggressive roll out of Pfizer vaccines in the different local government units started on October 5, with the utilization rate of 6,000 to 10,000 Negrenses, with average utilization rate of 93 to 100 percent, as far as Pfizer vaccines is concerned.
Many want to avail of Pfizer since they are planning to go abroad, which is being accepted in their respective work places, he added.
This vaccine utilization rate indicates a high acceptance rate and a boost to our vaccination campaign, Diaz said.
As of this time, he reported that almost 300,000 individuals have already been fully vaccinated in Negros Occidental, which is equivalent to 14 percent to 15 percent of targeted individuals, with the application of second doses of Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Moderna and Sinovac are also ongoing.
More than 6,400 vials or 38,400 doses, of Pfizer vaccine were delivered to all local government units from October 2 to 12.
Starting next week, Diaz also announced that they are now open to vaccination of all sectors of society, especially the economic frontliners, starting Tuesday next week, on first doses, as they already complied with the quota set by the Department of Health.
But he said they are still waiting guidelines from the DOH on the vaccination of minors, from 12 years old to 17 years old, although they are ready and willing to do it, once there is already a signal for them.
On the booster shots as requested by many health workers, Diaz said they cannot grant their requests, since there are others who have yet to get first doses of vaccination.
He also reported that more local government units are also requesting for the Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT) Kits for Expanded Contact Tracing.
As for lack of available health personnel, Diaz said they will focus on the vaccination rollout, adding that vaccinated individuals are protected up to six months, while RAT is fitting just for the time that an individual is tested.
He, however, said the province is simultaneously doing the vaccination rollout, expanded contact tracing through RAT, and the conduct of RT-PCR testing, which is according to the schedule and urgent requirements of LGUs.
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Provincial Consultant Albee Benitez said that they are aiming to vaccinate 1.8 million Negrenses by the end of 2021 to achieve herd immunity to protect the population against rising COVID- 19 cases.*
