ILOILO City – Before the year ends, the city government is hoping to fully vaccinate against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) 90 percent of its total target population.
“We really have to double our guards,” said Mayor Jerry Treñas.
As of Sept. 17, 39.28 percent or 206,202 of the 525,000 total target population here already completed the recommended doses of Food and Drug Administration-authorized coronavirus vaccines.
Meanwhile, 87,654 individuals were waiting for their second dose set based on the brand’s interval.
Walk-in vaccination for city residents is ongoing, as well as the vaccination in the villages.
A local government needs to vaccinate 75 percent of its total population to achieve herd immunity.
Treñas said on Sept. 28, the second tranche – 28,000 doses – of the AstraZeneca shots the city earlier procured would be delivered here.
The city government so far received an initial 21,000 AstraZeneca doses in the first delivery.
“Sufficient supplies are in preparation for achieving herd immunity as soon as possible. The city has the highest vaccination rate in the region,” said Treñas.
Vaccines are also being readied for booster shots for healthcare workers and frontliners once the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases gives the go signal.
The city government has spent P300 million for 600,000 AstraZeneca doses. It also added P114 million for 163,927 Novavax jabs.
Treñas will also request the national taskforce to consider vaccinating children aged 12-17 years old.
Barangays and other registration sites continue registering the children.
As of this writing, Iloilo had 22 cases of the Delta variant following the recent seven cases recorded.
Most of these cases have already recovered.
Of the recent seven cases, one was active.
“I urge everyone to observe stricter protocols, and avail of the vaccination,” said Treñas./PN
