The Provincial Health Office (PHO) in Negros Oriental has renewed its call for adults aged 18 and above to avail of free coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines so the rollout for minors can start soon.

Assistant Provincial Health Officer Dr. Liland Estacion, in a virtual presser on Monday night, said they cannot move forward with the vaccination of the 12 to 17 age group while there are still a significant number of adults who are not yet inoculated.

“We have plenty of vaccines now so please come and get yourselves vaccinated. Our mega vaccination center is working double time to accommodate as many eligible individuals so long as you have been pre-listed,” she said in mixed English and Cebuano dialect.

Estacion reported that as of October 25, the number of fully vaccinated individuals in Negros Oriental has reached 163,264, including those who received the one-shot Janssen vaccine.

The province has a long way to go before reaching even half of the 908,939 adult population target.

So far, 502,862 doses of Sinovac, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna, Janssen, and Sinopharm jabs have reached the province.

As of Monday, Negros Oriental still has 2,530 active Covid-19 cases while there are 14,314 recoveries out of the total 17,252 infections. (PNA)