Batch 2 with 9,640 doses of vaccines arrive for Bohol, Negros Oriental

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

 CEBU CITY – Batch 2 of the COVID-19 Sinovac vaccines for Central Visayas with 9,640 doses arrived in Cebu Friday at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) Cold Room for sorting before the vaccines were delivered to Bohol and Negros Oriental accordingly.

The Governor Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital (GCGMH) in Tagbilaran City, Bohol will be allocated with 8,440 vials, while the Silliman University Medical Center Foundation, Inc. (SUMCFI) in Dumaguete, Negros Oriental will have 1,200 vials.

 Office of Civil Defense (OCD-7) assistant regional director Engr. Niel Balaba who is in-charge of the logistics has asked for OPAV’s assistance for the transport/delivery of the vaccines.  OPAV arranged for a vessel transport for both deliveries with the help of PNP Maritime Group-Regional Maritime Group 7 Chief PCol. Rizalino Padrique for Bohol, and of the Philippine Navy for Negros Oriental.

The arrival of the vaccines is seen to kick-off the mass inoculation in the provinces of Bohol and Negros Oriental.

In similar development, the vaccination program has already started in Cebu on March 4 with its initial allocation of 7,200 vaccines and the vaccine rollout is ongoing at the VSMMC with the health care workers as top priority for the vaccine jabs.

 Dr. Gerardo Aquino, medical chief of the VSMMC was the first healthcare worker in the Visayas to get the first shot of the SinoVac vaccine during the ceremonial rites that was done by DOH Usec. Gerardo Bayugo, head of DOH’s Field Implementation and Coordination Team.

Around 50-70 healthcare workers from VSMMC had their Covid-19 vaccine Thursday and to continue the succeeding days where 400-500 healthcare workers are inoculated per day.

 Aquino revealed that around 1,245 healthcare workers in VSMMC pledged to be vaccinated and among those that were vaccinated were Dr. Juanito Tiu of St. Anthony Mother and Child Hospital, Dr. Pythagoras Zerna of Eversley Childs Sanitarium and General Hospital, Dr. Jean Loreche of DOH 7, and Major General Melquiades Feliciano of the Inter-Agency Task Force Central Visayas.

Presidential Spokesperson Sec. Harry Roque graced the event and he urged government agencies to intensify the education drive in a whole-of-nation approach to boost vaccine confidence through a clear vaccination roadmap.

The efficacy of Sinovac against COVID-19 administered in two doses at two-week interval is 50.65 percent for all cases; 83.75 percent for cases requiring medical treatment, and 100 percent for hospitalized, severe and fatal cases, based on trials, according to DOH. (Photos: OPAV/PIA-7)