BALER, Aurora — The Provincial Health Office of Aurora has received 28,000 doses of flu vaccines from the Department of Health (DoH) to ensure that residents of the province are protected from the seasonal influenza via the government’s flu vaccination program.

According to Provincial National Immunization Program coordinator Nurse Femia Calumba, 8,000 of the overall number of doses came from DoH Region 3, while the additional 20,000 doses were from the DoH Central Office through the coordination of Congressman Rommel Angara.

She said that the free vaccination program started on 26 November and will end on 16 January. Currently, the 8,000 doses from the DoH Region 3 were already distributed, while the Provincial Health Office continues to use the remaining 20,000 doses to the residents of Aurora that are being distributed through eight Rural Health Units (RHUs) here.

The vaccines were distributed to the RHUs in Baler, Casiguran, Dilasag, Dinalungan, Dingalan, Dipaculao, Maria Aurora and San Luis to ensure that every town in the province has access to the vaccine. All residents aged 10 above are allowed to take the vaccine.

Calumba cited the importance of the program, especially to those who are susceptible to the complications of flu, such as pregnant women, senior citizens, those with chronic medical conditions, and caretakers of people with high risk of contracting the disease.

Calumba expressed her gratitude to the DoH Region 3 and the DoH Central Office for their support, as well as to Congressman Angara for the additional allocation of vaccines.

She urged the residents of Aurora to go to the nearest RHU or coordinate with the Provincial Health Office to avail of the free flu vaccine.