Free rice a come-on for Negros folk getting jabs

BACOLOD CITY—The Negros Occidental provincial government has provided rice incentives to encourage residents in some localities to have themselves inoculated against COVID-19 during the two-day nationwide vaccination drive that started on Thursday.

Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said the province would be giving 2 kilos of rice to at least 1,000 residents who would get their first dose of the vaccine during the inoculation drive.

Negros Occidental has so far only fully vaccinated 60 percent of its initial 1.8 million target residents. The devastation caused by Typhoon “Odette” (international name: Rai), which hit the Visayas on Dec. 16 last year, slowed down the vaccination drive in Negros Occidental, Diaz said.

Areas of concern

Diaz said the Negros Occidental Provincial Health Office (PHO) and hospital teams will augment the vaccination drives in some areas in Kabankalan and Bago cities during the national vaccination days to boost their output.

The Department of Health has identified the cities of Kabankalan, San Carlos and Bago as “areas of concern” because of their low COVID-19 vaccination numbers.

Diaz said the provincial government also conducted vaccination drives at five sites during the distribution of housing materials and food packs to 3,979 victims of Typhoon Odette in Cauayan on Thursday.

On Feb. 14, the provincial government will start its vaccination drive for children age 5 to 11 at Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital (TLJPH) in Silay City.

Diaz said the children’s parents and guardians were encouraged to register their youngsters for vaccination at the PHO, TLJPH or at his office.

Provincial Consultant Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said they aimed to vaccinate the majority of the residents to contain the spread of the virus.

“This will enable the opening up of more food businesses and allow the resumption of face-to-face classes,” he said. —CARLA P. GOMEZ

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