Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said Monday, April 19, that he is opting for a Sinovac jab.
Lacson was among the local chief executives (LCEs) in critical and high risk areas granted permission under National COVID-19 Vaccination Operations Center Advisory No. 26 to be vaccinated against COVID-19 ahead of their colleagues.
However, Lacson, 61, is opting to be vaccinated along with the province’s senior citizens who belong to Group A2 on the government’s vaccination priority list.
Lacson said he will wait for Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, to inform him when he can be vaccinated with the senior citizens.
He is opting for a Sinovac jab since there are not enough AstraZeneca vaccines available, Lacson said.
Ayala Corporation chairman emeritus Jaime Zobel de Ayala was vaccinated with Sinovac “so I’m more convinced already that the vaccine is good”, Lacson said.
Dr. Mary Jane Juanico, DOH 6 infectious disease cluster head, said in a virtual press conference Monday that those who belong to Group A1 in Negros Occidental are 22,144 frontline health care workers (HCWs) and in Group A2 are 201,985 senior citizens.
Bacolod City has 11,285 HCWs under Group A1 and 66,000 senior citizens in Group A2, she added.
In Negros Occidental, 12,830 frontline HCWs have received their first dose of the vaccines versus COVID-19, and 10,890 – their second dose, Juanico said.
In Bacolod City, 8,220 HCWs have received their first dose and 5,600 their second dose, she said.
Mayors Evelio Leonardia of Bacolod City, Salvador Escalante – Cadiz City, Victor Gerardo Rojas – Murcia, Neil Lizares – Talisay City, Nicholas Yulo – Bago City, Maria Gina Montilla Lizares – Sipalay City and Alejandro Mirasol – Binalbagan town are the seven other LCEs in Negros Occidental granted permission to be vaccinated for COVID-19.
Escalante received a Sinovac jab on Thursday, April 15, and Leonardia had a AstraZeneca vaccine on Saturday, April 17.*