74% of Bicol’s folk jabbed vs Covid-19 –– DOH

By Keren Anne Bernadas

Around 73.93 percent of Bicol’s target population are already vaccinated against Covid-19, according to the latest bulletin of the Department of Health-Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD).

This equates to 3, 726, 976 Bicolanos who have received their first dose.

Twinkle Lorilla, DOH-CHD nurse coordinator for Bicol, said the total Covid-19 vaccine doses administered have reached 7,004,538.

Exactly 67.43 percent of the region’s 5,040,943 target individuals have completed their Covid-19 vaccine doses.

As of Monday, June 13, the province of Catanduanes has attained the highest rate of fully vaccinated population at 83.30 percent, followed by Sorsogon with 66.95 percent; Albay, 66.05 percent; Camarines Sur, 65.57 percent; Camarines Norte, 61.26 percent, while Masbate remained the lowest with 54.50 percent.

The vaccination coverage accomplishment by province: Catanduanes has 88.16 percent; Albay, 77.87 percent; Camarines Sur, 75.63 percent, Sorsogon, 74.15 percent; Camarines Norte, 67.69 percent, and Masbate, 64.16 percent.

Lorilla said one of the strategies to intensify the vaccination program is the deployment of health workers to generate demand for the vaccines.

“We sent teams from the DOH Bicol to particular areas in Masbate including Masbate City, Cawayan and Aroroy in order to explain and encourage the residents there about the benefits of getting vaccinated against COVID-19,” she said.

The deployment was effective, Lorilla said, as seen in the increase of the vaccination rate of the areas.

“From five percent vaccinated children aged five to 11 years old in Masbate City last June 6, the deployment efforts have resulted to six percent gain as of today. Likewise, in Cawayan, from 15 percent, it now increased to 22.2 percent; and Aroroy from 16.2 percent to 25 percent,” Lorilla said. (PIA5)