BACOLOD City village chiefs were asked to determine the total number of their constituents who want to be vaccinated once the vaccine against coronavirus disease is available in the city.
This was stressed by Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran Friday, January 15, 2021, after it was already determined that Bacolod is getting 650,000 doses of AstraZeneca to start the city’s vaccine program against Covid-19.
Familiaran said they expect that in the next few weeks, Mayor Evelio Leonardia will issue a memorandum address to the village chiefs to conduct an inventory within their puroks to determine who wants to avail of the Covid-19 vaccine.
“They should make an inventory within their barangays so we can determine the total number of Bacoleños who want to be vaccinated. It is voluntary and we cannot force those who will refuse the vaccine,” he said.
Of 650,000 doses of AstraZeneca, he added only 355,000 individuals in Bacolod can avail of the vaccine, which costs P610 for two doses.
“Those who are willing to avail of 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,” Familiaran said.
He said the vaccine will only be for persons 18 years old and above since minors were not part of the vaccine trials.
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 vaccines.
AstraZeneca plc is a British-Swedish multinational pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical company with its headquarters in Cambridge, England.
The Emergency Operations Center also vowed to intensify its information and education campaign so that the public will participate in the vaccination.