*First to be inoculated: Medical personnel, policemen, soldiers, barangay tanod, and all other frontliners
The Province of Ilocos Norte is on the priority list of local government units that will be given with “free and safe” COVID-19 vaccines, Secretary Vince Dizon, National Action Plan Against COVID-19 Deputy Chief Implementer, said on behalf of vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr.
On December 11, members of the National Task Force (NTF) – Coordinated Operation to Defeat Epidemic (CODE) Team and the Regional Task Force 1 Against COVID-19 visited Ilocos Norte to augment the containment strategies of the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte amid the recent virus outbreak in Laoag City.
“Pinapasabi po ni Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr. ang ating Chief Implementer at vaccine czar, na isa po sa mga priority areas ang Ilocos Norte. Lalong-lalo na ang mga frontliners, medical personnel, kapulisan, mga sundalo, barangay tanod, at lahat na nasa frontline laban sa COVID-19,” Dizon quoted Secretary Galvez.
According to Dizon, the “free” vaccine might be available in the country in the first half of 2021.
“Nangako po ang presidente na ang vaccine ay libre. Ito po ay babayaran ng National Government lalo na para sa frontliners. Hindi mamomroblema sa gastos ang ating mga probinsia at LGUs pero pwede rin namang bumili ang Provincial Governmen at ibang LGUs in coordination with the National Government,” he added.
At present, the Food and Drug Administration, Department of Science and Technology, and Department of Health, in cooperation with the World Health Organization, are thoroughly screening and validating the vaccines to ensure that it is safe for all.— (Blessing Angel V. Agliam, PGIN-CMO)
