Ormoc gets Pfizer jabs

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — The first batch of Pfizer COVID vaccines allotted to Eastern Visayas arrived in Ormoc City on Tuesday.

The Department of Health (DOH) regional office said the 1,170 doses would be used to inoculate the remaining medical frontliners, senior citizens and persons with comorbidities.

The National Task Force against COVID-19 identified Ormoc as the first recipient of Pfizer vaccines because it has a cold chain facility and adequate vaccination team.

The DOH regional office said additional Pfizer vaccines would be delivered to Eastern Visayas in the coming weeks.

The task force reiterated its call for local government units (LGUs) to follow the prioritization framework in the implementation of the vaccination program.

Eastern Visayas recorded 187 new infections yesterday, bringing the active cases to 2,642.

In Ilocos Sur, the local governments of Candon and Vigan cities as well as Bantay and Sinait towns rolled out Pfizer vaccines on Tuesday.

Provincial health officer Carmelita Singson said the 1,170 doses that each LGU received should be administered within five days.