La Union Receives Pfizer Vaccs, Gears up for Inoculation
By: Camille R. Bumatay, PIO | Photos By: Sonny Buenaventura, PIO | Date: June 18, 2021
Equipped with the required storage facility for Pfizer vaccines, the Provincial Government of La Union, headed by Gov. Francisco Emmanuel “Pacoy” R. Ortega III, received today, June 18, 2021, the first batch of the said vaccine brand which includes four trays or 780 vials for first dose allocated for A1-A3 priority list as the #BakunaMuna Program of the province continues.
The Department of Health (DOH) turned over two trays containing 195 vials each to the Provincial Health Office (PHO) while one tray each were turned over to Bacnotan District Hospital (BDH) and La Union Medical Center (LUMC).
To ensure proper handling and administration of the vaccine without spoilage, a dry run of the handling and inoculation of the Pfizer Vaccine will be conducted on Monday, June 21, 2021 before the actual vaccination on Tuesday, June 22, 2021 for the PHO and Wednesday, June 23, 2021 for BDH and LUMC. The province targets 250 to 300 vaccinees per day, per venue and to administer all vaccines within the week.
In a meeting with District Hospital Chiefs and Officers-In-Charge, PGLU CoViD-19 Vaccination Program Task Force Focal Person and Vaccination Operations Manager Dr. Dan William Dacanay emphasized that the capacity of the province to handle the Pfizer vaccines is a testament of the efficiency of the vaccination program of La Union. “If we can carry the Pfizer Vaccines, we will be able to determine if we can carry all other vaccine brands,” he said.
The PGLU has purchased three units of Ultra Low 512L, -70ºC Freezers in March in preparation for the arrival of the Pfizer Vaccines considered as the most temperature-sensitive CoViD-19 vaccine brand required to be stored within -60ºC to -80ºC.
A total of 35,100 doses of the said vaccines was turned over to Region 1 on June 15, 2021 and as of writing, only the provinces of La Union and Pangasinan have received vials so far within the region.
While the arrival of the Pfizer Vaccines is expected to bring higher demand for CoViD-19 vaccination in general, Gov. Pacoy reminds the public to remain vigilant despite getting inoculated, saying, "The best vaccine is the one available. We continue to observe the minimum health standards even after getting the complete dose of vaccines."
