By Dolly Yasa
BACOLOD City – The province of Negros Occidental needs 3 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said he will ask the national government for the vaccination of 70% of the province’s total population.
Earlier, Vaccine Czar Secretary Carlito Galvez informed members of the League of Provinces of the Philippines during a virtual meeting that the national government will take care of the vaccination of 70% of the country’s population.
Lacson said Galvez reported that the national government has secured 148 million doses of vaccines for 78 million individuals.
The three million doses he will request will cover 1.5 million Negrenses, which is equivalent to 70% of the Negros Occidental population, he added.
The governor also said that it was stressed during the dialog with Galvez that nobody can be forced to be inoculated.
“It still depends on the individual if he wants to,” Lacson said.
The provincial government of Negros Occidental already entered a multi-lateral contract with AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals Philippines Inc. for the purchase of 100,000 doses for 50,000 individuals.
Several component cities in the province also signified their intention to purchase vaccines for their respective constituents.
Some municipalities, including E.B. Magalona, Toboso and Hinobaan also signified their intention to the same.
During the virtual meeting, Lacson said that Galvez encouraged provincial governments to consolidate orders of their respective local government units.
The governor stressed though that even with the vaccines, the people should still observe the minimum health protocols, especially now with the detection of the more transferable COVID-19 UK variant.
“Remember that the use of face mask, face shield, the observance of proper physical distancing and the exercise of proper hygiene remain to be our most effective tools against the transmission of the virus”, he added.
“We have been in this pandemic for several months already and now is the time to be more vigilant than ever,” Lacson said.
