ILOILO City – Twenty-four local government units (LGUs) in Western Visayas extended the “Bayanihan Bakunahan” national vaccination drive until Dec. 3, according to the Department of Health (DOH).
According to Dr. Bea Camille Natalaray, medical officer of DOH Region 6, since the mass vaccination is a whole-of-society approach, its extension would mean that LGUs could still avail themselves of the help of volunteers and private sectors.
“DOH is ready to facilitate augmentation of resources when needed by LGUs until Dec. 3, 2021,” she said in an interview.
Among those that already informed the DOH of their plan to extend were the LGUs of Hinigaran, Talisay, Sagay, EB Magalona, Candoni, Silay, San Carlos, San Enrique, Himamaylan, Bago, Murcia, Kabankalan, Escalante, and Moises Padilla in Negros Occidental.
The towns of Ibajay, Banga and New Washington in Aklan; Pandan in Antique; Sigma, Jamindan, Pilar, Ivisan, Tapaz, and Cuartero in Capiz also signified their plans to extend the vaccination drive.
Partial cumulative count in the three-day vaccination campaign (as of 11 a.m. of Dec. 1) recorded 592,341 inoculated individuals, equivalent to 74.88 percent of the 791,034 target in the region.
“Compared to our regular vaccination days, there are areas or provinces that have almost doubled or tripled their accomplishment. We have provinces that accomplished more than their committed numbers,” she said.
The provinces of Negros Occidental and Antique, and the highly urbanized cities of Iloilo and Bacolod, have exceeded their commitment.
Bacolod City, which committed 66,171 for the three-day target, inoculated 70,752 while Iloilo City has 21,208, above its 18,000 goal.
Negros Occidental, meanwhile, accomplished 213,291 exceeding its 150,000 commitment while Antique recorded a 51,699 accomplishment as against its 45,000 target.
Natalaray added that even without the “Bayanihan Bakunahan,” the regular vaccination will continue. They are hoping to cover the 70 percent target eligible population by end of the year.
There is also a proposal for the second round of the national vaccination days on Dec. 15 -17, although they are still waiting for official guidelines. (PNA)
