Central Visayas catches up in COVID-19 vaccination drive

CEBU, Philippines —   After being in the bottom three performers in the nationwide vaccination drive, Central Visayas has caught up and is now ranked fourth among all regions in COVID-19 vaccine administration.

However, there is no cause to celebrate yet as only 26.70% of those masterlisted have been fully vaccinated in the region.

Data presented by the country’s vaccine czar, Sec. Carlito Galvez, during the Talk to the People of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte program last Tuesday that out the 5,638,340 population targeted in the region, only 1,505,675 have been fully vaccinated.

Figures in Central Visayas are expected to increase soon with 1,667,293 already having had their first dose.

So far, there are now 3,172,968 vaccines of different brands administered in the region.

The National Capital Region still leads the vaccination campaign with 80.78% of its population already fully vaccinated and 92.85% having had their first dose.

Next to NCR is Calabarzon with 31.08% fully vaccinated and third Central Luzon at 28.30%.

The Visayas Vaccination Operations Center, through its spokesperson Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, said it has noticed improvements in the LGUs’ efforts in the vaccination rollout and hopes that they do more in the coming days.

The VVOC also reports that all those in A1 or the health care workers are now 100 percent fully vaccinated. All of the 131,989 HCWs masterlisted have already taken their second dose as of October 12.

VVOC, however, called on the LGUs to find more ways to get the seniors vaccinated so that children 12 to 17 years old with comorbidities can already start their inoculation.

To begin with the pediatric population, the region has to finish vaccinating at least 50% fully vaccinated seniors.

Regionwide, 37.8% of the masterlisted senior citizens have been fully vaccinated with only Cebu City and Talisay City having figures above 50% of the target.

For A3 or for persons with comorbidities, 56.% have been fully vaccinated; A4 or the economic frontliners, 49.4%; and the indigent population, 8.9%. — Decemay P. Padilla, JMD (FREEMAN)