The government rollout of COVID-19 vaccines has been slow, less than half of the health care workers (HCWs) on the A1 priority list of Negros Occidental have been vaccinated.
The Sinovac and AstraZeneca vaccines sent to Negros Occidental only cover 12,660 HCWs, of the 28,000 on their A1 priority list, Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, Provincial Health Officer, said Tuesday, April 20.
Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said the HCWs who have been fully vaccinated or who have received their second doses were 3,929 as of Monday.
“The vaccine roll out has been slow,” he said.
“We are administering the vaccines given to us based on the priority list, we cannot jump the line. We have to be disciplined enough to wait for our turn,” he said.
Another shipment of vaccines is expected this month with more also arriving in May, he said.
The next on the priority list for vaccination versus COVID-19 are the senior citizens who belong to the A2 category.*