More elderly lining up again for COVID-19 vaccination in Cagayan de Oro

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental, Philippines — The vaccination turnout of seniors in the city has increased after a police autopsy found that the death of a recipient last week had nothing to do with the COVID-19 vaccine.

Dr. Lorraine Nery, acting city health officer, disclosed that on Thursday, 1,314 elderly lined up to be inoculated with their first dose of AstraZeneca.

“We saw the positive outlook of every vaccinee,” said Nery, noting that the elderly and the relatives who accompanied them showed no hesitation nor doubts.

Nery thanked the timely conduct and release of the autopsy report on 73-year-old Zoilo Joaquin Borcillo, who died minutes after taking the first dose of AstraZeneca last May 12.

The autopsy showed that Borcillo died of a heart attack.

Two days after Borcillo’s death, the turnout of elderly people at the vaccination line suddenly dipped. Of the expected 1,200 recipients, only 500 showed up.

According to the Department of Health, as of May 20 this year, 9,598 elderly in Cagayan de Oro have been vaccinated. Of these, 4,625 got CoronaVac and 5,233 AstraZeneca.

Throughout Northern Mindanao, the count of inoculated seniors has reached 48,183 as of May 20.

[atm]