BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN

The provincial government of Negros Occidental yesterday received 125,000 doses of Pfizer for use in pediatric vaccination.
This developed as the provincial government of Negros Occidental faces an imminent problem in the disposal of 221,049 near expiry COVID-19 vaccines.
Dr. Claudelia Josefa Pabillo, officer in charge of provincial government cold storage facility, earlier admitted that vaccine takers in the province are getting fewer.
Health experts warned that violations of health protocols during campaign sorties, coupled with the waning effectiveness of the vaccines, may result in another surge of COVID-19 cases after the elections.
Provincial Inter Agency Task Force action officer Rayfrando Diaz yesterday said that they are hoping to reach out more children to be vaccinated, in preparation for face-to-face classes.
The near expiry vaccines composed of 36,720 doses of Pfizer with orange cap marked for pediatric vaccination, 140,539 doses of Janssen, 38,900 Astra Zeneca doses, and 4, 890 Moderna doses, according to Pabillo.
Diaz said that the Department of Health is now directly overseeing all vaccines that arrive in the country, and its utilization, following issues on near expiry vaccines.
But he said that the PHO and DOH is working hand-in-hand so that vaccines will not go to waste.
As of April 3, Diaz reported that 1,268,712 Negrenses are fully vaccinated, equivalent to 60.46 percent of the 80 percent targeted for vaccination, while 125,000 others are awaiting their second dose.*