Capiz Governor Esteban Evan B. Contreras is among the selected local chief executives (LCE) in the region who is included in the priority sectors for COVID-19 vaccination.
This was revealed by Provincial Health Officer Dr. Ramon Alex Nolasco during a Provincial Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) online meeting, April 8, as embodied in a recent advisory of the national immunization task force.
“All the governors in Western Visayas are entitled to receive a vaccine,” he said, adding that the Department of Health is also lobbying the inclusion of all the mayors in Western Visayas in the priority list.
Aside from the governors, the National COVID-19 Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) also identified 21 mayors in Western Visayas into the priority list based on its Advisory No. 26 issued last April 6.
Two from among the mayors are from Capiz – Jamindan mayor Mac Artur Valdemar and Cuartero mayor Tito Mayo.
“If a locality becomes high or critical risk as determined by the DOH, the LCE of the locality shall be qualified for inoculation with COVID-19 vaccines,” said part of the NVOC advisory.
Pursuant to the directives stipulated in the key agreements of the 108th Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) meeting, LCEs (governors and mayors) of critical and high-risk provinces, cities and municipalities may be vaccinated as part of Priority Group A1.5, taking into consideration their role in the COVID-19 pandemic response and the limited vaccine supply, the advisory added. (PIA Capiz)
