A TOTAL of 1,737 frontline healthcare workers in 11 hospitals of Misamis Oriental got their first dose of the AstraZeneca-Oxford (AZ) vaccine against coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
Among the said hospitals were the Misamis Oriental Provincial Hospitals in the municipalities of Magsaysay, Talisayan, Balingasag, Claveria, Manticao, Initao, Alubijid and Gingoog City; and private hospitals in Tagoloan, Jasaan and Medina.
On March 10, a total of 2,200 vials or 22,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which were transported via a commercial flight of Philippine Airlines, arrived at the Laguindingan Airport.
Among the 2,200 vials, the Department of Health (DOH)-Northern Mindanao allocated 178 vials or 1,780 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to Misamis Oriental.
The vaccination rollout of this specific vaccine in the 11 hospitals in the province began on March 12.
“For quite some time we have dreamt. Today it has finally arrived. It will hopefully be able to start a new era of a glimpse of a good future,” Governor Yevgeny Emano said.
Provincial Task Force for Covid-19 Chief Dr. Jerie Calingasan expressed his gratitude to the National Government as well as the DOH.
"As I have always said that at the end of the rainbow is a pot of gold, this is the pot of gold that we are looking for; a memorable thing that we will be doing,” Calingasan said.
The first batch of vaccination rollout in Misamis Oriental will end on Sunday, March 14.