ILOILO City – There is a need to ramp up vaccination against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), especially the second booster shots.
Citing the rising cases of COVID-19 in this city, Mayor Jerry Treñas is encouraging those who have yet to get their booster shots to avail of it.
“We have to ensure that everyone is duly protected,” he said.
The city government will set up a vaccination site, particularly at the Ker and Co. building just across the city hall, for the city government employees and residents. It will also be open for residents of the province.
“May mga bakuna (Pfizer brand) nga nag-abot halin sa DOH. Indi man madamo but it will be enough,” he noted.
Treñas said data from the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit 6 showed that second booster coverage in the region is low at around 12 percent of the total target. However, as far as Iloilo City is concerned, the booster rate is 49.61 percent among those 18 to 59 years old and 38.90 percent of the target population involving 60 years old and above.
Treñas emphasized that although there will be no other restrictions since the city remains under Alert Level 1, it will just continue to impose mandatory wearing of facemasks especially on closed-setting areas.
Meanwhile, according to the report of the City Health Office, the positivity rate of COVID-19 cases in the city increased to 7.08 percent on April 23 from 1.78 percent on April 1.
Dr. Roland Jay Fortuna, CHO assistant health officer, reported that from April 1 to 23 alone they recorded 84 confirmed cases of COVID-19. The figure is higher compared to around 40 cases logged in March.
Nevertheless, Fortuna said the health care utilization rate of the city remains low at 25 percent.
The medical officer cited the increase in cases to the loosening of restrictions while others have become complacent by no longer wearing facemask.
With the reiteration of mandatory wearing of facemask especially on indoor settings and crowded areas, Fortuna urged the public to comply with for their protections./PN
