Coron, Palawan mayor asks for more vaccines amid COVID-19 surge

FILE PHOTO: A health worker checks the vials labelled “COVID-19 Coronavirus Vaccine” over dry ice in this illustration taken, December 5, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

MANILA, Philippines — Coron, Palawan Mayor Mario Reyes Jr. on Tuesday appealed to the national government for more vaccines against COVID-19 as the locality is experiencing a surge of infections.

At present, there are 152 active cases in the municipality, forcing the local government to place under lockdown eight out of 20 barangays.

The locality only has 850 available COVID-19 vaccine doses for its over 50,000 population, Reyes said. He added the local government is set to start vaccinations on Wednesday or Thursday.

“Kailangan po namin ng tulong. Kailangan namin nag vaccine dito sa Coron. Ako ay nananawagan na sana ay mabigyan kami ng vaccine. Kulang po ‘yun sa aming populasyon, sana mapagbigyan kami sa aming hiling,” he said in a Laging Handa public briefing.

(We need help. We need vaccines here in Coron. We are appealing that we be given vaccines. Our available vaccines are not enough for our population, we hope our appeal can be granted.)

Reyes said he will meet with the local task force against COVID-19 to discuss the possible reopening of the province on Wednesday.

He, however, said that COVID-19 cases only saw a decline on Monday since May 12.

JPV