Negros Occidental still under MGCQ

BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental’s Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson yesterday extended the modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) status of the province until March 31.

R e g u l a t i o n s a n d a mendments t o t h e province’s MGCQ protocols made earlier would remain i n effect, Lacson said.

Health protocols and travel regulations for arriving Authorized Persons Outside of Residence ( APORs) and non-APORs shall remain “in full force and effect,” too, he added.

Lacson again reminded Negrenses and establishment owners to follow health safety protocols such as wearing of facemasks and face shields, washing of hands and social distancing.

“Anyone who violates [ these protocols] will face appropriate administrative and/ or criminal charges,” Lacson said.

The MGCQ extension will take effect at 12 a. m. on Monday./

MANILA – The interim National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG) recommended the use of Sinovac’s coronavirus disease 2019 ( COVID- 19) vaccine for health workers.

Department of Health (DOH) undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said NITAG and the DOH Technical Advisory Group (TAG) have agreed that Sinovac is safe for use based on the currently available evidence.

“NITAG and the DOH- TAG has deemed it sufficient to recommend the use of the vaccine for health care workers as it bears to reiterate that our goal for prioritizing health care workers for vaccination is to reduce morbidity and mortality among their group, while they maintain the most critical essential health services,” Vergeire said in a virtual press conference on Friday afternoon.

NITAG member Dr. Maria Consorcia Quizon said the China-made vaccine is a “safe vaccine.”

“[Sinovac] is safe for use for health care workers. We need to protect them. Since

available rt Co ito ang ngayon,

kanila,” said Quizon. kailangan nating gamitin para

Despite the development, sa Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said frontline workers will not be forced to get Sinovac’s COVID-19 vaccines because they have the choice to choose the vaccine they prefer. “Wala pong pilitan. ‘Yung

brand gusto mag- antay nga po concession ng ibang siguro, ang is na maibibigay sa kanila puwede sila

antay without losing humindi at puwede sila their priority mag-

kasi ‘ yan EUA ( emergency use naman ang nakasulat sa authorization),” said Roque said.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which granted EUA to the Chinese vaccine, earlier said Sinovac is not recommended for medical frontliners as it showed a lower efficacy rate of 50.4 percent.

The first batch of the vaccine is expected to arrive in the country on Sunday, with soldiers and health workers as the top priority for inoculation./