BY ADRIAN P. NEMES III
The scheduled inoculation today of Mayor EvelioLeonardia and more than 30 captains out of 61 baranggays of Bacolod against COVID-19 has been cancelled.
Dr. Edwin Miraflor, City Health Officer-in-charge, said last night that Leonardia informed him that the latter’s request for the inclusion of local chief executives in the vaccination priority was approved but he misunderstood the classification under A.4 as that of A.1.4.
The national Inter-Agency Task Force and the Department of Interior and Local Government had earlier classified the local chief executives under category A4 priority for the vaccination roll-out.
“With the best of intentions in mind, and in the hopes of encouraging Bacolodnons to take active part in the vaccination program of the City, the Emergency Operations center and Vaccination Council promptly scheduled a ceremonial vaccination for Leonardia and the barangay captains,” Miraflor said.
“However, after further clarification has been made and upon review of circumstances, we regret that we need to postpone the intended activity,” he said.
On March 5, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran and members of the City Council had volunteered to be inoculated.
That did not push through also as they were informed that due to limited vaccine supply, there is a need to strictly abide by the prioritization schedule.
Miraflor said that now, Leonardia and the Barangay Captains are again denied the same opportunity to inspire Bacolodnons to avail of the COVID-19 vaccines.
He stressed that Leonardia and Barangay Officials are ready to set an example for their fellow Bacolodnons.
Leonardia was supposed to be the second mayor of Negros Occidental to be inoculated against COVID 19.
Mayor Melicio Yap of Escalante City was given Sinovac jab last week during a ceremonial inoculation.*
