About 355,000 Bacolenos can avail two doses of AstraZeneca vaccines against coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
This was stressed by Bacolod City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran yesterday, January 14, after Mayor Evelio Leonardia already announced that Bacolod City is getting 650,000 doses of AstraZeneca to start off the city’s vaccine program against Covid-19.
Familiaran said of 650,00 doses of AstraZeneca, 355,000 individuals in Bacolod can avail this vaccine which costs P610 for the two doses.
“Those who are willing to avail the vaccine will get two doses of vaccines and it’s already enough for our constituents because those who are below 18-years-old are not beneficiaries of this vaccine. Some of the big corporations also agreed to shoulder the vaccination of their employees,” he said.
Familiaran explained the vaccine will only be used to 18-years-old and above because the minors are not part of the vaccine trials.
The vice mayor noted that based on the 2015 census, those who are below 18-years-old reached 206,000 individuals.
“While waiting for vaccines to arrive, we should observe the minimum health protocols,” Familiaran said.
The City Government earlier allotted P300 million for the advance purchase of vaccines against Covid-19.
Leonardia also signed the multilateral and confidentiality agreement with AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals Philippines Inc. for the advance purchase of the vaccines.
AstraZeneca plc is a British-Swedish multinational pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical company with its headquarters in Cambridge, England.
Leonardia said this is a giant leap towards realizing the city’s vaccination goals.
“ I’ve signed a deal with this Oxford-British firm which means that a very substantial number of our population can be vaccinated as soon as this product hits Philippines shores,” he said.
He added: “While I was excited to make this announcement earlier, I withheld because I had to honor the confidentiality clause that was standard in all their contracts. However, when I was informed that some quarters were already making public the details of the deal, I sought AstraZeneca’s consent first making this announcement.”
The mayor disclosed that this is definitely a very good start and he also expressed his gratitude to Familiaran and the members of the City Council for their support and cooperation.
Dr. Chris Sorongon, deputy medical for data analysis and assessment of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), earlier said they will intensify their information and education campaign so that the public will participate in the vaccination.
He said the EOC will consult with different infectious disease consultants and will convene with the speakers’ bureau concerning the planned vaccination.
“We want to emphasize to the public the benefit and importance of the vaccine. We are encouraging people to avail it,” he added. (MAP)