SENIOR citizens or the priority group A2 from Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) region received their one shot COVID vaccine during the start of the Janssen vaccine roll-out last Friday.

The Janssen of the Johnson and Johnson (J&J) vaccination for the elderly was led by Regional Director Eduardo Janairo, who received the first shot of the vaccine.

Janairo recently recovered from the COVID-19 virus.

“We need every protection that we can get to protect ourselves against the COVID virus. And now that we have the Delta Variant cases detected in the region, we need to prioritize our safety, double our precautionary efforts and strictly follow health protocols,” Janairo said.

“For the elderly, like myself, I advise you to better stay at home to stay safe. Strengthen your immune system by consuming healthy diet and also take multivitamins to further boosts your strength and stamina,” he said.

“Importante na mabakunahan natin lahat ang ating mga senior citizen para sa kanilang protection hindi lang sa COVID-19 kundi pati na rin sa bagong Delta Variant na kumakalat ngaun,” he added.

The Department of Health has allotted the Janssen vaccines of Johnson & Johnson (J&J) solely for the elderly population as they are more at risk of severe COVID-19 and also to prevent hospitalization and deaths.

A total of 3.2 million Janssen vaccines were donated to the country by the United States and delivered through the COVAX facility.

The DOH central office has allocated 100,000 vaccines per region.

Janairo urged all senior citizens and persons with comorbidities to avail the Janssen vaccine for it safe and effective as an added protection against the dreaded virus.

“Sa mga nabakunahan na, patuloy po tayong sumunod sa mga health protocols gaya ng pagsusuot ng face mask kung lalabas ng bahay, social distancing at regular na paghuhugas ng kamay at paggamit ng mga disinfectant,” the regional health official said.

As of July 21, there are a total of 1,991,625 individuals who completed their first and second dose of vaccination against COVID-19, including 681,461 senior citizens and 582,268 persons with comorbidities.

The Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit reported a total of 203,103 COVID cases in the region as of July 23, with 10,779 active cases, 186,201 recoveries and 6,123 recorded deaths.

ECIJA STARTS J&J INOCULATION OF 800 ELDERS

San Jose City in Nueva Ecija received its first batch of 800 doses of the single-shot COVID-19 vaccine developed by Johnson & Johnson.

In its social media page, the city government announced on Sunday night that priority groups A2 and A3 are scheduled to be inoculated yesterday at the Pag-Asa Sports Complex on Maharlika Highway in Bgy. F.E. Marcos.

Mayor Mario “Kokoy” Salvador said the vaccination schedule is divided in five batches and on an hourly basis starting from 12p.m. until 5 p.m.

Salvador said there will be no walk-ins as those in the priority groups A2 and A3, who registered on-site and via on-line, have been already informed by their assigned barangay coordinators of their respective vaccination schedules.

According to the FB post, at least 503 senior citizens (A2) and 297 adults with controlled comorbidities (A3) have registered to receive the vaccine yesterday.

Salvador said they also posted on-line the vaccination schedule for 2nd dose only of those who already earlier got inoculated with the first dose of the Pfizer (July 26, 27, 28), Sinovac (July 29), and AstraZeneca (Aug. 9, 10, 11) vaccines.

As of July 22, there are 38 active COVID cases, with 680 recovered, 70 deaths, and a total of 788 infections. The three top barangays with most number of active cases are identified as Sibut (nine cases), Abar 1st (six) and Malasin (four).

Earlier, the DOH said the Janssen vaccines should be administered exclusively to the elderly population, as they continue to be at risk of severe COVID-19 or hospitalization.

With Steve Gosuico