BACOLOD City Mayor Evelio Leonardia urged Bacolodnons to avail of the available vaccine against Covid-19 and should not be choosy when it comes to the vaccine brand.

“As of now, our vaccination slowed down because it looks like that some of our people are waiting for brands (vaccine) since for now we have Sinovac vaccines and some become choosy when it comes to the vaccine brand,” Leonardia said Friday.

He said the City Government is still dependent on the delivery of the Covid-19 vaccines from the national government.

“Our doctors are always telling us that the best vaccine is the one in your arm, which means that regardless of the brand the people should avail it. So I am appealing to our people that for now, let’s not be choosy when it comes to the vaccine brand. The efficacy of all the vaccines can save our health,” he added.

The mayor noted that statistics show that those who are hospitalized are those who have not been vaccinated.

Dr. Chris Sorongn, deputy for medical data and analysis of Emergency Operations Center (EOC), said on Tuesday the City Government received an additional 3,600 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines, which are part of the 650,000 doses that were purchased by the city, and 10,000 doses of Sinovac vaccines.

He said these vaccines will be administered to the city’s residents who are under priority groups A1 to A5, either first or second doses.

As of August 15, Bacolod City Covid-19 Vaccination Council (CoVac) had inoculated a total of 180, 045 individuals. Of the number, 79, 65 were fully vaccinated.

Sorongon said it is their target to vaccinate a total of 422,000 Bacolodnons or the 80 percent total population of the city.

On Thursday, Bacolod City also launched its second "VAX-i" bus in partnership with Vallacar Transit, Inc. to intensify its vaccination program.

Leonardia said with the second VAX-i bus in operation, the City Government hopes to reach as many vaccine recipients in keeping with the target to hasten efforts to achieve herd immunity.

He said these pioneering initiatives include the recent implementation of the mobile vaccination using the city government's bus dubbed as VAX-i or the vaccine taxi that initially inoculated 4,752 market vendors and Business Process Outsourcing employees, the drive-thru vaccination at the 5th level parking area of Ayala Malls Capitol Central on top of the ongoing inoculation at mass vaccination sites, different malls and other on-site venues available at major BPO companies.

“Our goal is to make the vaccines available to as many Bacolodnons. This way, we keep our communities safe as well as our loved ones," Leonardia added.