ILOILO City – More local chief executives (LCEs) in Panay Island have been vaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Will the power of their example work?
Four more mayors in Iloilo province availed themselves of the anti-coronavirus jabs from China’s Sinovac Biotech. They were Rey Grabato of Mina, Carlos Cabangal Jr. of Banate, Mark Palabrica of Bingawan, and Ma. Lina Holipas of Leon.
“Gusto ta ipakita sa aton pumoluyo nga wala sila dapat kahadlokan,” Cabangal said in an interview with Panay News. “Kita man nila…una ako nga nagpabakuna.”
Prior to his vaccination, Cabangal said his vital signs were assessed by the personnel of the Rural Health Unit (RHU). Afterwards, he was monitored for 30 minutes for any side effects. There was none.
“Wala man ako sang nabatyagan after nabakunahan,” Cabangal shared.
The 60-year-old mayor once again urged residents of Banate to submit themselves for inoculation once the vaccines becomes available.
Those in the government’s priority list, meanwhile, were encouraged to contact their barangay officials and Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERTs).
“Indi na kamo magpangduha-doha. Magpa-vaccine kamo para maluwas naton ang aton isigkapareho kag ang aton panimalay sa virus nga ara sa aton palibot nga indi naton makita,” he added.
For her part, Holipas said she was one of the LCEs included in the adjusted priority list of the National COVID-19 Vaccination Operations Center.
Her vaccination was also a way to encourage the people of Leon, especially the frontliners to be injected.
“Diri mapakita ko sa akon mga pumoluyo nga wala gid sila sang kahadlokan sa vaccine kay ako nga una nakabaton sini wala man sang nabatyagan sa lawas ko,” Holipas added.
She also felt secured now that she has been vaccinated, especially “adlaw-adlaw ara ako sa opisina kag lain-lain nga tawo ang akon gina-atubang.”
An RHU staff administered her anti-coronavirus shot. She also underwent the same processes before and after vaccination.
Grabato, on the other hand, got his first dose of the CoronaVac vaccine being an elderly.
The mayor also wanted protection for himself, his family and constituents, especially that he got infected last month.
Grabato is also enjoining healthcare workers and other priority populations in Mina to also avail themselves of the free jabs.
Meanwhile, Palabrica received his anti-coronavirus shot yesterday.
Mayor Raul Banias of Concepcion was the first Ilonggo mayor – and first LCE in Western Visayas – to be inoculated using the AstraZeneca vaccine. He was a medical doctor and a senior citizen.
Aside from the Ilonggo LCEs, two mayors from Antique province also received their initial doses of the CoronaVac vaccine.
Valderrama’s Mayor Mary Joyce Roquero belonged to the elderly population and she never hesitated to be vaccinated.
Mayor Julie Pacificador of Hamtic also got vaccinated yesterday.
RHU healthcare workers administered their shot.
Earlier, Antique’s Gov. Rhodora Cadiao received her first dose, making her the first governor in Western Visayas – and the first senior citizen in Antique – to be inoculated.
Cadiao was also included in the National COVID-19 Vaccination Operations adjusted priority list.
Gov. Samuel Gumarin of Guimaras also received his COVID-19 vaccine, together with Mayor Annabelle Samaniego of Sibunag who was also included in the priority population.
Iloilo City’s Mayor Jerry Treñas and Bacolod City’s Mayor Evelio Leonardia also got their doses.
To note, only 28 LCEs in Western Visayas were included in the government’s COVID-19 vaccination adjusted priority list – all governors in the region, one mayor from a highly urbanized city (Leonardia) and 21 mayors from towns and cities deemed by the Department of Health as “critical and high risk” areas.
Pursuant to the key agreements during the 108th meeting of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, LCEs of critical and high-risk provinces, cities and municipalities may be vaccinated as part of Priority Group A1.5, “taking into consideration the role of LCEs in the COVID-19 pandemic response and the limited vaccine supply.”
Other LCEs are also waiting for their schedule to avail themselves of the anti-COVID shots./PN
