Ilocos Sur receives 966 doses of Sinovac vaccines

VIGAN CITY, Mar. 6 (PIA) – The province of Ilocos Sur received 966 doses of the coronavirus vaccines made by China’s Sinovac Biotech from the national government through the Department of Health (DOH) on Friday, March 5.
 
These are intended for the 483 willing employees of the Ilocos Sur Provincial Hospital-Gabriela Silang (ISPH-GS), which is one of the eight referral hospitals in the Ilocos Region with initial allocation of the vaccines.
 
The vaccines were transported at around 2:30p.m. from the DOH-Center for Health Development-Region 1’s cold storage facility in San Fernando City, La Union and arrived at the ISPH-GS in this city at 5p.m.
 
Mr. Jayson Tadique, cold chain manager of the Provincial Health Office of Ilocos Sur, led his team in securing the initial allocation of vaccines for the eligible health care workers in the province.
 
In a short program, Dr. Trina Tabboga-Talaga, chief of the ISPH-GS and Provincial Government of Ilocos Sur’s COVID-19 Task Force incident commander, expressed her gratitude to all the health care workers for bravely facing all the challenges and responsibilities bestowed upon them in this time of pandemic.
 
“Sobrang hirap po lalo ng health care workers natin. Every day, they are feeling for their lives. At sobra rin ‘yong torture, intellectual and emotional torture sa ating lahat at sa mga pamilya natin, dahil alam nila any time pwede tayong tamaan ng COVID-19 yet hindi natin pwedeng talikuran ‘yong responsibilidad natin to care for the people kasi ito ‘yong sinumpaan nating profession,” Dr. Tabboga-Talaga said.
 
Governor Ryan Luis Singson is grateful to the national government for these vaccines for the so-called “heroes” of the province.

VACCINE DONE. Dr. Trina Tabboga-Talaga, chief of the Ilocos Sur Provincial Hospital-Gabriela Silang and Provincial Government of Ilocos Sur’s COVID-19 Task Force incident commander, is the first recipient of the Sinovac vaccine in Ilocos Sur. (photo from Ryan Luis Singson's Facebook Page and DZTP Tirad Pass Network)

 

“We see the light outside of the tunnel…Thank you President Rodrigo Roa Duterte for giving us hope,” Governor Singson said.
 
Singson also emphasized the importance of the vaccine stating that this will provide an added protection, an additional armor for the frontline workers as they continue the fight against COVID-19.
 
“Kahit kaliwa’t kanan ang mga sinasabi nila tungkol sa bakuna, tandaan niyo, at least may bakuna na. At least, may added protection na para sa inyo – aming mga frontline workers. Hindi naman magbibigay ang national government ng bakuna na delikado. Safe lahat ng bakuna. Pare-pareho ang mga ito na makapagbibigay-proteksyon sa atin mula sa COVID-19,” he said.
 
Likewise, he encouraged the public to set aside their reluctance and to get vaccinated when their time comes.
 
“Sa mga nagdadalawang-isip magpabakuna, I am asking you, magpabakuna na kayo. Again, an added protection is better than nothing. Ngayon, narito na ang mga bakuna, magtutuloy-tuloy ang ating laban kontra sa COVID-19. In a few months, mananalo at mananalo tayo against COVID-19,” he added.
 
Inoculation followed after the brief launching of the COVID-19 vaccine.
 
Dr. Tabboga-Talaga and Dr. Roland Zara, infectious diseases expert, were the first to receive the Sinovac vaccine. (JCR/AMB/PIA Ilocos Sur)

Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)