MORE than 60 healthcare workers of the University of the Philippines-Los Baños have received their first shot of Covid19 vaccine.

Those who were inoculated were personnel of the University Health Service and the Covid19 Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory. They were led by UHS Medical Director Jessie Imelda Walde.

The rest of the university’s frontliners and staff will receive their vaccines beginning March 25, 2021.

UP-Philippine General Hospital Director Gerardo Legaspi, who welcomed the group, said that it is important for the health workers to be vaccinated because they are the most vulnerable to infection.

“UHS attends to about 30 swabbings a day. There are days when 70 percent of the swabs turn out positive. Having the vaccine is a protection, a shield and a shot of hope for the UHS HCW,” Walde said.

She encouraged university constituents to lead the UPLB community to a science-based understanding of the benefits of the vaccine.

“Let us do our part in the race to save humanity. Accept the vaccine, whatever vaccine. As the experts say, the most effective vaccine is the one that is in your arm. Get vaccinated,” she said.