LUCENA CITY –– The island province of Romblon has started its coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination rollout Tuesday morning, March 9.
Gov. Jose Riano announced on his Facebook page the start of the vaccination of health workers at the Romblon Provincial Hospital in Odiongan town, which, he said, he witnessed.
The Department of Health delivered 1,000 doses of China-made Sinovac vaccines to Romblon on March 5.
Riano encouraged residents to avail themselves of the free vaccines once they become available to all on the priority list.
“The target today is to vaccinate 50 to 55 health workers at the RPH,” Riano said.
The hospital could provide vaccines to 90 recipients daily for those on the list, Riano said.
He said the other vaccination centers in different parts of the archipelagic province are ready to start the immunization activities.
Riano said the provincial government plans to inoculate at least 70 percent of the population.
Romblon, located at the Sibuyan sea, has a population of 292,781 based on the 2015 population census.
As of March 8, the province has logged 147 COVID-19 cases since the pandemic broke out in March last year.
A total of 135 patients have recovered, while three have died.
The province still has nine active virus carriers.