SAN JOSE, Antique – “In fairness, wara gid ako sang may nabatyagan,” declared Gov. Rhodora Cadiao after she was vaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on Monday.
She was inoculated with CoronaVac, the vaccine made by Sinovac Biotech of China.
Cadiao admitted that initially, Sinovac was not her preferred vaccine.
“Gusto ko daad maghulat sang Moderna or AstraZeneca kay nag-order kami. Pero sa itong pagkakaton siguro kailangan leadership by example,” said Cadiao.
She acknowledged that many Antiqueños, even those who are healthcare workers, are hesitant of being vaccinated.
“It’s my moral responsibility to show to them that we have to trust the vaccine,” said Cadiao, and so she had herself vaccinated with Sinovac’s CoronaVac.
She assured Antiqueños she felt no adverse side effects and urged them, especially healthcare workers, to get vaccinated, too.
Cadiao became the first governor in Western Visayas to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The chief nurse of Angel X. Salazar Memorial General Hospital Sherwin Juales administered the vaccine to her.
“I would like to assure everybody that before I got the shot, ginpamangkot gid ako kang akun nga health. So, tanan kita ka ria kun ingkaso gusto niyo magpabakuna, especially mga senior citizens, hindi gid kamu magkabalaka. Sigurado gid ang health personnel nga antis mabaton ang anu man nga bakuna, you are ready for it,” said Cadiao.
Four Antique municipal mayors may also be vaccinated with Sinovac. The following were included in the priority list released by the National COVID-19 Vaccination Operations Center:
* Mayor Gian Carlo Occeña of Sibalom
* Mayor Maxfil Policar of Anini-y
* Mayor Elmer Untaran of San Jose
* Mayor Margarito Mission Jr. of San Remigio
A total of 28 local chief executives in Region 6 were in the priority list.
The other governors named were Arthur Defensor Jr. of Iloilo, Samuel Gumarin of Guimaras, Esteban Evan Contreras of Capiz, Florencio Miraflores of Aklan, and Eugenio Jose Lacson of Negros Occidental./PN
