BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The provincial government may achieve a herd immunity against COVID-19 by February next year, if they managed to distribute 300,000 doses of vaccines to Negrenses a month, disclosed Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson.
Negros Occidental has reached about 15 percent or about 300,000 Negrenses that have received their COVID-19 jabs as of this time.
Provincial Inter Agency Task Force action officer Rayfrando Diaz reported that the Negros Occidental provincial government yesterday received 306,060 doses of Sinovac and Pfizer, including the 126,360 doses of AstraZeneca purchased by the provincial government through a tripartite agreement with the pharmaceutical firm.
Last week the provincial government also received more than 120,000 doses of assorted brands of vaccines from the national government, which now prioritizes provinces in the distribution of vaccines.
While they are now in the process of registering adolescents with comorbidities for vaccination, Diaz said that they are still waiting for the go signal from Department of Health to proceed.
With the imminent vaccination for 12-17 years old, Lacson said achieving herd immunity may go beyond 70 percent of the population
Local government units in Negros Occidental have resorted to creative ways to encourage their residents to have themselves vaccinated, by offering them free rice and grocery packs for those who complete their vaccinations.
The La Carlota City government is offering three brand new tricycles, computer laptop units and high-end cellular phones as prizes for a raffle draw for registered vaccinated individuals.*
