By Ma. Joreina Therese A. Blanco
LAOAG CITY, April 10 (PIA)–Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc and fifteen other local chief executives in Ilocos Norte received their first dose of Sinovac jab against COVID-19 on Friday, April 9 at the Governor Roque B. Ablan Sr. Memorial Hospital here.
However, three Ilocos Norte mayors were reasonably vaccinated earlier.
Based on Advisory No. 26 of the National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) approved by the National IATF for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, local chief executives in critical or high-risk areas for COVID-19 are included in the priority list for inoculation.
In last Friday’s vaccination, Governor Manotoc and the mayors underwent the same procedure such as screening, counseling, and post-vaccine monitoring.
Manotoc said he did not feel any adverse effects upon receiving his first shot.
“Wala namang epekto. I feel as good as I did before the vaccine. Looking forward to my second dose in two weeks,” he told reporters.
Earlier, the youthful governor pledged to get inoculated to boost the vaccine confidence of his fellow Ilocanos.
Of the vaccinated, the most senior was 72-year-old Solsona town Mayor Joseph de Lara. He got the Sinovac shot after the FDA approved the brand for senior citizens.
Aside from Governor Manotoc and Mayor De Lara, also vaccinated last Friday were the mayors of Sarrat, Pinili, Marcos, Nueva Era, Banna, Paoay, Currimao, Adams, Pagudpud, Bacarra, Piddig, Carasi, Laoag City and Batac City.
The mayors of Dingras and Badoc got their first dose of the vaccine two days ago while San Nicolas Mayor Alfredo Valdez Jr., also a medical practitioner, was inoculated last March.
So far, more than 3,000 healthcare workers and medical frontliners in Ilocos Norte were done with their first dose of vaccine and some are now up to get their second shot to obtain herd immunity against the COVID-19. (Ma. Joreina Therese A. Blanco/PIA Ilocos Norte)
