Olongapo residents urged to refrain from choosing vaccine brand

A resident on the priority list gets vaccinated against COVID-19 in Olongapo City. Officials in the city have been asking other eligible vaccine recipients to get inoculated regardless of the brand. (Photo courtesy of Olongapo City Information Center)

OLONGAPO CITY — A public health official in this city on Tuesday (Aug. 10) urged residents who are eligible for COVID-19 vaccine to refrain from choosing the brand to help the local government achieve herd immunity.

Dr. Rodrick Bustamante, city health officer, made the appeal after some residents reportedly did not show up during their scheduled vaccine upon learning that they would be receiving the Sinovac vaccine.

“Gusto na natin matapos ang pagbakuna sa mga senior at may comorbidities. Kung maari ‘wag na tayo mamili ng vaccine,” Bustamante said in a video message.

He said getting vaccinated regardless of the brand would help the vulnerable sectors get protection from the threat of the more contagious variants of COVID-19.

The city has already logged two cases of the Delta variant last week.

According to Bustamante, the two patients were quarantined and being strictly monitored.

So far, the city has inoculated 23,635 residents and about 19,300 of them are already fully vaccinated. INQ

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