BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental’s Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson together with several officials received their first doses of the vaccine against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
“It is one jab to heal humanity,” Lacson said after his inoculation at the Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City yesterday.
He was vaccinated with CoronaVac made by China’s Sinovac Biotech.
Lacson said he went with Sinovac’s vaccine over AstraZeneca because it was “unclear if there would be an available second dose” for the latter.
Provincial Board members Pal Guanzon, Samson Mirhan, Victor Javellana, Araceli Somoso, and Manuel Frederick Ko also received their initial doses of CoronaVac.
The officials would have preferred AstraZeneca jabs but Lacson pointed out that Sinovac was the only available jab at the hospital.
Their vaccination was followed by those of mayors Nicholas Yulo of Bago City, Manolet Escalante of Manapla, Pedro Zayco of Kabankalan City, Rhumylla Nicor-Mangilimutan of La Castellana, and John Rey Tabujara of Cauayan.
Hinoba-an’s Mayor Ernesto Estrao was also there but his vaccination was rescheduled; he had hypertension.
For capitol officials, Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena also received his first jab, along with four other elderly employees.
The vaccination was overseen by Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, provincial health officer.
Lacson said he had not felt adverse side effects.
“No one was allowed a shortcut; we underwent interviews and our blood pressures were taken,” Lacson said.
He was also told by the medical staff that he may feel sleepy after a while, but noted that it is normal and should not be a cause for concern.
The governor also advised those who have already been vaccinated not to be complacent as they can still be susceptible to the virus and should exercise caution.
MORE VACCINES FOR NEGOCC
On the other hand, the Department of Health delivered an additional 23,500 Sinovac vaccines to the province yesterday – 16,000 vials for Negros Occidental and 7,500 for Bacolod City.
Zeaphard Caelian, head of the Negros Occidental Provincial Incident Management Team, said the vaccines arrived at the Bacolod-Silay Airport via a Philippine Airlines flight around 8:25 a.m.
The province’s vaccine supply will be divided again for distribution among local government units, Caelian added./PN
