Healthcare workers who were given shots of Sinovac vaccines feel safer than ever to deal with their clients with added protection.

After receiving her first dose of Sinovac vaccine, Dr. Marley Tababa-Oracion, a family doctor at the Magsingal District Hospital, said Thursday she comes home from work knowing that she has a stronger immune system to fight the virus.

Like Oracion and the other medical front-liners who took the risk and conquered their fears in taking the vaccine, the first rollout of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccine in Ilocos Norte received a high acceptance rate with a total of 930 vaccinees as of Thursday.

Dr. Rogelio Balbag, provincial health consultant of Ilocos Norte, confirmed this, noting additional 503 doses of Sinovac vaccines have arrived in the province. After these were turned over by the Department of Health (DOH), the vaccines are now being rolled out in the different district hospitals and private hospitals here.

“For today (March 11), 80 were inoculated at the Karmelli hospital, 30 in Bacarra, and it is still on-going in the district hospitals,” he said.

He added at least 50 vials of AstraZeneca, which arrived Wednesday, were also being rolled out at the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center in Batac City, the Governor Roque B. Ablan Sr. Memorial Hospital (GRBASMH), and Laoag City General Hospital (LCGH) here.

“The first vaccine rollout of AstraZeneca will accommodate our senior healthcare workers who are 60 years old and above,” Balbag said.

In a public advisory, the vaccination program for the AstraZeneca vaccines kicked off at the LCGH.

Next week, more Covid-19 vaccines are expected to arrive in the province for the continuing vaccination program. (PNA)