Iloilo secures COVID-19 vaccine supplies for residents

The Iloilo Provincial Government and the Iloilo City Government have secured supply deals for vaccines against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Governor Arthur Defensor, Jr. and Mayor Jerry Treñas signed on Sunday, Jan. 10, separate multilateral agreements with AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals Philippines Inc. for the advance purchase of COVID-19 vaccines.

The agreements were also signed by National Task Force Against COVID-19 chair Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr., and Department of Health (DOH) Sec. Francisco T. Duque II.

The city, according to Treñas, was able to secure 600,000 doses of vaccine for its 300,000 residents.

“It has been a long week for me since Monday (Jan. 4) because I would stay until late at night just to research and negotiate to make sure that I will be able to secure enough vaccines for my beloved Ilonggos,” he said.

“After a year since this pandemic started, this is a sign of hope that we are closer to our lives before COVID-19,” the mayor further said.

Meanwhile, the province will initially purchase 270,000 doses of vaccine amounting to US$1,350,000.

Both the province and city are currently under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), the lowest form of lockdown enforced by the government.IMT