Over 3k Ilokano medical, health workers receive COVID-19 vaccine
After one month since Ilocos Norte conducted its first vaccination rollout, more than 3,000 frontline health workers from different public and private hospitals have received COVID-19 vaccine shots.
Particularly, vaccinees from the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital & Medical Center (MMMH&MC), Governor Roque B. Ablan Sr. Memorial Hospital (GRBASMH), Laoag City General Hospital (LCGH), and other selected non-government hospitals, had their first dose of vaccine last March, and have had their first and second doses last March and April 4,respectively.
“Nabakunahan na lahat ng ospital [workers] sa probinsiya, both public and private. Last Saturday hanggang Tuesday (April 3-6), ginanap na yung second dose vaccination ng mga unang nabakunahan. Samantalang yung second dose ng mga health workers sa mga district hospitals ay magaganap ngayong linggo,” Dr. Rogelio Balbag, Ilocos Norte Hospital and Management Council Executive Officer stated.
“Ang sususunod na ay iyong mga taga-public health: municipal and city health offices, including our border health workers. ‘Yong ibang municipalities like Bacarra, Pasuquin, Sarrat, Banna, and Paoay ay nagsimula nang magbakuna ng kanilang mga frontliner health workers,” Dr. Balbag added.
On March 30, the Provincial Government was provided with additional 3,000 vials of Sinovac vaccine, which will be given to health workers of Rural Health Units (RHUs) and City Health Offices throughout the province.
To date, Ilocos Norte has already received more than 4,000 vials combined of Sinovac and Astrazeneca vaccines from the National Government.
“Tuloy-tuloy na ito [vaccination]. We’re hoping na sa darating na Linggo, mayroon na naman tayong matatanggap para isunod na rin ang mga barangay health workers, at indigent senior citizens. Nagsimula na rin ang mga LGUs na maglista ng mga senior citizens na posibleng tumanggap ng bakuna,” Dr. Balbag concluded. – Stewart C. Ocampo, PGIN-CMO
