To help allay the fears of the people on receiving vaccination against coronavirus disease (Covid-19), City Mayor Noel Rosal led the vaccinees during the rollout of CoronaVac jabs at the Legazpi City Convention Center on Tuesday.

“Kaya tayo nagpa-vaccine para sumunod na mga tao at kailangan na for the safety of the city in opening the economy (That’s the reason why we got vaccinated, so the public will follow and this is needed for the safety of the city in opening the economy),” Rosal told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

He said his blood pressure rose during the process but added that it was probably because he got excited about being finally protected against the dreaded virus.

Dr. Fulbert Alec Gillego, City Health Officer, said at least 287 health workers in the city are targeted to be vaccinated. Some 143 of them are from the city health office and 144 are from the Legazpi City Hospital.

When asked why he was the first to receive the jab, Rosal said priority are the health workers, but as approved by the Department of Health (DOH), he was included as front-liner and they are the one who actually finalized the list.

In an earlier interview, he said they have earmarked PHP200 million for the purchase of vaccines to inoculate the city’s 130,000 residents. (PNA)