THE Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) on Wednesday, March 17, 2021, said 2,204 of its personnel are willing to be vaccinated against Covid-19.
Police Lieutenant Abegael Donasco, spokesperson for NOCPPO, said they had finished the inventory of their personnel who were willing to be inoculated with the Covid-19 vaccines.
Of the current 2,237 personnel throughout the province, 2,204 have signified their willingness to be vaccinated, while 33 have chosen not to be vaccinated due to various reasons such as those who are pregnant, are currently breastfeeding, or have underlying conditions such as hypertension, Donasco added.
Donasco recalled several cases wherein cops mistakenly believed that being vaccinated can cause infertility.
The NOCPPO spokesperson also said they will distribute the vaccines by batch. Initially included in the first wave are 118 police officers assigned at their headquarters in Bacolod City, followed by 928 from the city and municipal police stations across the province.
For the second wave, 118 cops from the headquarters will receive the vaccine, followed by 923 from other police stations.
Those belonging to NOCPPO's Health Services Office will be prioritized in the first wave, along with those who will directly help the Department of Health in the mass vaccination of the general population, which is currently tentatively scheduled in late April.
Donasco added that based on information they received from the national headquarters, they will receive a still undetermined number of Sinovac vaccines.
"The Sinovac vaccines will be the primary vaccine to be used for the inoculation of the police officers," she added.
