Metro Cebu exceeds vax target

CEBU, Philippines — Central Visayas has vaccinated 631,450 doses over the three-day National Vaccination Days, which are 84,023 doses short of its target 715,473 doses, cumulative data as of 11:59 p.m. of December 1, 2021 showed.

However, data for Metro has been encouraging given that the vaccinee turnout exceeded the goal by nearly 20,000 doses.

A total of 252,087 doses were administered over the three-day period in Cebu province; 95,723 in Cebu City; 43,097 in Lapu-Lapu City; and 26,027 in Mandaue City.

Nevertheless, Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, Department of Health-7 chief pathologist and spokesperson for the Visayas COVID-19 Vaccination Operations Center said that the three-day National Vaccination Days contributed “good numbers” for Metro Cebu’s vaccination efforts.

She said that the vaccination days have been a very important accomplishment for Metro Cebu, which was able to administer 93,748 doses, way higher than the target doses of 76,113.

“Consistently, these two days, they (Metro Cebu) delivered the numbers, in terms of vaccinees – showcasing the teamwork and coordination of every member of the community,” said Loreche in a statement released by the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas.

In Consolacion town which is part of Metro Cebu, Mayor Joannes Alegado said that the number of those who got their jabs during the three days was consistently at around 6,000. This meant that their town hit the target set by DOH and the Department of Interior and Local Government.

“The three-day national vaccination days in Consolacion were a success because our barangay officials, barangay workers and purok leaders went out of their way to reach out to everyone. They helped mobilize our people. Also the municipal officials together with the municipal information office had intensified the campaign by going directly to the people in person conducting small group discussion.

We have used social media as well. So everyone was doing their part,” the mayor said.

Alegado also informed his constituents that there would be another National Vaccination Days set by the NVO this December 15,16 and 17 but he encouraged them to get vaccinated even before these dates to avoid crowding and for a faster vaccination experience.

In the City of Naga, the local government has administered 11,729 doses of vaccines during the three-day vaccination drive while the municipal government of Cordova has been able to inoculate 7, 441 of its residents.

Vax stats so far

Meanwhile, data from all the public and the private sector vaccination centers in Cebu show that as of December 1, total doses administered already reached 3,760,831 doses divided as follows: 2,262,221 for the first dose, 1,491,500 for the second dose, and 7,210 for the booster dose.

For Metro Cebu, Loreche said that 73.95% or 1.615 million of the total eligible population of 2.184 million have been administered with the first dose while 51.90% or 1.333 million have been fully vaccinated.

Loreche said that with the current performance, “we might have 80% single dose and 55-60% fully vaccinated before the end of the year.”

OPAV Secretary Michael Lloyd Dino, for his part, lauded Metro Cebu local government units, as well as the volunteers and organizations that helped in the three-day National COVID-19 Vaccination Days, for their cooperation and efforts that resulted in good vaccinee turnout.

“I urge the LGUs and the rest of the community in the Visayas to continue to do their part in the vaccination program. Having more fully vaccinated individuals will help boost economic recovery in the three regions,” Dino added. — Le Phyllis F. Antojado, JMD (FREEMAN)