Over 55k doses of COVID-19 vaccines administered in Ilocos Sur
BY: JOYAH MAE C. QUIMOYOG

VIGAN CITY, June 19 (PIA) – The Provincial Health Office of Ilocos Sur has administered a total of 55,562 doses of COVID-19 vaccines as of June 16, according to Provincial Health Officer Dr. Carmeliza Singson.

Dr. Singson said that some 42,013 frontline health workers (A1), senior citizens (A2), and people with comorbidities (A3) in Ilocos Sur have received their first doses of the vaccine while some 13,549 recipients of same priority groups have received their second doses of the vaccine.

Moreover, she added that a total of 49,587 vials of Sinovac and AstraZeneca vaccines combined were delivered to the province from the Department of Health (DOH) since the vaccination started on March 5 with the latest arrival of Sinovac vaccines on June 14 totaling to 8,000 vials allocated for the first doses of the remaining A1, A2, and A3 priority groups.

“Aside from these, we are expecting the arrival of Pfizer vaccines to be given to the cities of Vigan and Candon and the municipalities of Bantay and Sinait because they are the local government units (LGUs) that can deliver the allocated 1,170 doses each within five days as they have already prepared their masterlist of recipients,” Dr. Singson said in an interview.

Dr. Singson added that with the efforts of the LGUs in encouraging its residents to get vaccinated, these numbers will continue to increase until the province attain herd immunity or until a large proportion of the population gets a protective vaccine.

During the Network Briefing News aired on June 9, Maria, Siquijor Mayor Meynard Asok said that they are taking steps to educate and reassure its residents on the COVID-19 vaccination, especially the senior citizens who are conservative by nature.

“Before, we used to be very strict when it comes to meetings, especially with the senior citizens because they are vulnerable as the meetings can potentially become spreaders when they hold them frequently. At this time, we already allow senior citizens to hold meetings, we send health personnel to educate them on vaccination,” Mayor Asok said. (JCR/AMB/JMCQ/PIA Ilocos Sur)