By Dolly Yasa
BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said the provincial government may achieve herd immunity against COVID-19 by February 2022 if they manage to distribute 300,000 doses of vaccines to Negrenses a month.
Lacson said 15 percent of the target population, or around 30,000 Negrenses, have received the COVID-19 jabs as of this time.
With the imminent vaccination of the 12- to 17-year-old population, Lacson said achieving herd immunity may go beyond 70 percent of the target population
Provincial Inter Agency Task Force Action Officer Rayfrando Diaz reported that the provincial government received 306,060 doses of Sinovac and Pfizer vaccines from the national government and 126,360 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine they purchased through a tripartite agreement with the pharmaceutical firm.
The provincial government last week also received more than 120,000 doses of assorted brands of vaccines from the national government, which now prioritizes provinces in the distribution of vaccines.
Diaz said that while they are in the process of registering adolescents with comorbidities for vaccination, they are still waiting for the go signal from Department of Health.
Local government units in Negros Occidental have resorted to creative ways to encourage their residents to have themselves vaccinated, by offering them free rice and grocery packs for those who complete their vaccinations.
The La Carlota City government is offering three brand new tricycles, computer laptop units and high-end cellular phones as prizes for a raffle draw for registered vaccinated individuals.
Moises Padilla Mayor Ella Garcia Yulo said they continue to give rice to those who get themselves vaccinated.
She noted though that there are more people trooping to the vaccination centers if the vaccines available are Johnson and Johnson, Pfizer and Moderna.
