Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu close to herd immunity

CEBU, Philippines —  The cities of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu are now close to achieving herd immunity after both local government units have fully vaccinated against COVID-19 over 60 percent of their eligible population.

Mandaue City continues to take the lead in the vaccine rollout among all LGUs in Metro Cebu. The data from Visayas Vaccination Operation Center shows that 63 percent of illegible population of the city has been fully vaccinated while 73.74% already received their first dose.

Lapu-Lapu trails with 61.07% fully vaccinated individuals and 74.31% for the first dose. Cebu City, for its part, has 52.88% fully vaccinated and 62.07% for its first dose.

Talisay, on the other hand, has 53.09% fully vaccinated population, Consolacion with 44.18%, Minglanilla with 53.11%, and Naga, 46.41%.

According to VVOC, at least over half of the eligible population in Metro Cebu is now fully vaccinated and 65.09% has received their first dose.

Cebu as a whole has already administered a total of 2,867,884 doses of COVID-19 vaccines, 1,311,042 of which were used for the second dose.

VVOC spokesperson Dr. Mary Jean Loreche is happy to note that the second week of November has shown improvements in the number of people showing up for vaccination compared to the first week.

Talisay City posted the highest jabbing rate of 69% with 8,329 of the 12,000 target administered while Cebu City has 68% accomplishment with 32,611 total jabs done of the 48,000 target and Lapu-Lapu at third spot with 64% with 17,839 of the 38,000 target first dose done.

Metro Cebu bounced back from lackluster performance during the first week of November by posting 139% accomplishment from November 8 to 14 with 53,157 doses administered instead of 38,151 target.

Cebu City had 120% on the second dose or 21,658 doses, way beyond its 17,996 target. This after those who missed their original schedules finally got their second dose.

Mandaue also went beyond their target at 102% after seeing 5,797-second dose jabs done. Talisay has the highest output in the second week of November at 299% with 3,754 doses administered, more than half of the target doses.

Minglanilla also has accomplished 113% while Consolacion posted 130%; Cordova has 90%; and Liloan at 65%.

VVOC is expecting LGUs not only in Metro Cebu but the entire island to keep vaccination up even with the National Vaccination Days coming up later this month.

Meanwhile, the average number of violators of the minimum health protocols in Cebu City has decreased by at least 50 percent despite easing out some of the restrictions.

According to the police, from 200 average violators apprehended daily, now it has reduced to 100.

Police Lt. Colonel Wilbert Parilla, deputy city director for operations of Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), said the police continue the aggressive implementation of the health protocols although some restrictions have been removed.

From November 8 to 14, a total of 2,780 violators were apprehended--1,212 adults while 154 were minors.

In the same period, the CCPO inspected a total of 218 establishments in the city to ensure that operators observe the protocols, especially in the dine-in prohibition for unvaccinated customers.

"Most number sa atong ma apprehend kay violators against the curfew and not wearing of facemasks, sa pagkakaron naa man gihapon ang curfew," said Parilla.

He, however, admitted that they observed that most individuals have misconception on the lifting of some protocols. — Iris Hazel Mascardo, FPL (FREEMAN)