THE first batch of 14,400 doses of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines have arrived at the Department of Health – Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD) Region 1 in San Fernando City, La Union Thursday at past 4:00 p.m. and distribution to eight referral hospitals that listed 7,097 personnel was done on Friday.

Dr. Valeriano Jesus Lopez, DOH -CHD regional director, said in a virtual press conference that the first batch will be delivered initially to COVID-19 referral hospitals and provincial hospitals in the region: (Pangasinan) Region 1 Medical Center and Pangasinan Provincial Hospital in San Carlos City; (La Union) Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center, La Union Medical Center; (Ilocos Norte) Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center, Gov. Roque Ablan Sr Memorial Hospital and Laoag City General Hospital; (Ilocos Sur) Ilocos Sur Provincial Hospital and Gabriela Silang General Hospital.

The number of vaccines were allocated based on the number of medical workers in direct contact with COVID patients submitted by their respective hospitals. Each medical worker will get two doses with 28 days interval from their first vaccine.

Lopez said inoculation is expected to be finished within seven days.

He advised the listed personnel given first priority to be inoculated because it is their chance to be protected against COVID-19.

“Let’s open our minds and accept the vaccines available to us now,” Lopez said.

Dr. Rheuel Bobis, medical officer IV and designated as the head of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in Health of the DOH-CHD Region 1pointed out that there are 7,097 health workers targeted to be inoculated for the first batch of COVID vaccines that have arrived so the 14,400 doses available are just enough to cover their two doses each with a little buffer stock, he said.

The recipient hospitals were ready with their cold storage facilities.

Meanwhile, Bobis said there are about 28,000 health workers in government and private hospitals in Region 1. The first 7,097 to be inoculated represents only 25 percent.

R1MC submitted 1,970 employees to be vaccinated while PPH gave 878 target employees so about 5,600 will be needed to cover everyone.

Meanwhile, Bobis said based on initial survey conducted by their office, the vaccine acceptability for the Sinovac COVID vaccine among their employees is at 44 percent in Region 1 but he expects this to increase after the reported rollout in Metro Manila.

“This means it went through an extensive study for its efficacy and safety and we can be rest assured that our vaccines are safe and effective,” Bobis said. (Eva Visperas)

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