Low vaxx rate means high COVID alert level

BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA

BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental struggles to meet its vaccination target by the end of this month. The turnout at various vaccination centers for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) inoculation remains low.

Of particular concern to the provincial government is the reluctance of those under the A2 category or senior citizens, said Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz.

Of the 15,000 targeted for vaccination under the A2 category, only 718 have been vaccinated.

According to Diaz, even though the provincial government had introduced incentives motivating Barangay Health Workers to persuade more senior citizens, many remain hesitant.

Coercing or forcing people to get vaccinated is out of the question, he stressed, because vaccination remains voluntary.

Because of the low COVID-19 vaccination, Diaz said, Negros Occidental may likely remain under Alert Level 2 beyond June.

Negros Occidental needs to vaccinate 70 percent of its target general population and 80 percent of its target senior citizens so that its current Alert Level 2 status can be deescalated to Alert Level 1.

The Department of Health set the 80 percent target of the province’s total population which is 2,098,421 residents.

For senior citizens, the target is 85 percent of their 269,602 population (or 239,374)./PN

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