CEBU CITY—Private hospitals in Metro Cebu have started the vaccination drive for SARS Cov2, the virus that causes COVID-19, for their health workers on Tuesday (March 9).
More than 7,000 of the workers agreed to be injected with CoronaVac, the vaccine made by Chinese firm Sinovac, according to Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, spokesperson of the Department of Health (DOH) in Central Visayas.
Among those vaccinated on Tuesday were 1,200 health care workers of Perpetual Succour Hospital, 1,584 personnel of Cebu Doctors Hospital University, 2,468 staff members of Chong Hua Hospital in Cebu City and 1,111 employees of Chong Hua Hospital in Mandaue City.
Also on the list were 414 staff members of South General Hospital in Naga City, 364 employees of the North General Hospital in Cebu City and 560 staffers of the Mactan Doctors Hospital in Lapu-Lapu City.
Dr. Pureza Oñate, medical center chief of Perpetual Succour Hospital, said there was nothing to be afraid of the vaccines.
“There is nothing to fear about. That is our protection for everyone and people are responding very well,” she said in an interview.
Oñate was not among those injected because Sinovac had been prescribed for only those 59 years old or younger.
If she would have her way, Oñate said she wanted to be injected but she had been advised to wait for another brand.