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AstraZeneca vaccines arrive, Pfizer and Sputnik share eyed

The AstraZeneca vaccines that arrived at the Bacolod Silay Airport Tuesday morning, May 11.*Janelle Dawn Belleza Aragona-CAAP Bacolod photo

The bulk of the 52,160 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines intended for Negros Occidental and Bacolod City arrived at the Bacolod Silay Airport Tuesday morning, May 11.

The Office of Civil Defense-Western Visayas reported that Negros Occidental received 3,080 vials or 30,800 doses and Bacolod City – 1,680 vials or 16,800 doses. Each vial of the AstraZeneca vaccine contains 10 doses.

Dr. Jane Juanico, Department of Health 6 infectious disease section head, on Monday said Negros Occidental would receive 32,740 doses and Bacolod City – 19,420.

Some of the doses for Bacolod and Negros Occidental were shipped to the DOH regional office, she said Monday, May 10.

The arrival of the new vaccines will allow Bacolod City to continue its mass vaccination drive being held at the SMX Convention Center and the Ayala Malls Capitol Central for health workers, seniors citizens and persons with comorbidities, City Administrator Em Ang said.

On Tuesday, 390 persons were vaccinated against COVID-19, said Ang, who is also executive director of the Bacolod Emergency Operations Center (EOC).

Dr. Chris Sorongon, EOC deputy for medical data and analysis, said Bacolod City is also expecting to get a share of Pfizer and Sputnik V vaccines acquired by the national government.

The city government is expecting the arrival of a freezer needed for the storage of Pfizer vaccines soon, he said.

He said if the 650,000 AstraZeneca vaccines ordered by the Bacolod government arrive before the end of the year it is hoped that herd immunity can reached in the city by December.

Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said the AstraZeneca vaccines received by the province will be administered to Negrenses who are 55 years old and above.

Vaccination against COVID-19 in Negros Occidental is currently for health workers and senior citizens, he said.

“We have started vaccination in the province, but we are still waiting for the massive roll out to achieve the aim of vaccinating 70 percent of the population,“ Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said.*

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