ILOILO – At least 66,000 residents of this province have already received their first dose of the vaccines against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
According to the Provincial Health Office (PHO), 24,032 frontline health workers, 25,524 senior citizens and 16,640 persons with comorbidities have already been inoculated with their first dose as of June 3.
A total of 33,378 individuals were inoculated with the AstraZeneca vaccine while 32,893 received Sinovac’s CoronaVac vaccine.
On the other hand, 13,859 people have received their second dose.
As of June 3, the towns with the highest number of persons vaccinated against COVID-19 were: Oton – 2,940, Passi City – 2,664, Pototan – 2,549, Pavia – 2,386, Miag-ao – 2,191, Cabatuan – 2,122, and Tigbauan – 2,027.
The towns with lower accomplishments in this regard were: Bingawan – 730, San Rafael – 521, San Miguel – 712, Tubungan – 862, Estancia – 951, and Igbaras – 855.
Meanwhile, the towns with the highest number of individuals injected with the second dose (as of June 3) were Cabatuan (422), San Joaquin (394), Pavia (384), Janiuay (365), and Oton (363).
Also conducting vaccination programs are the capitol-run district hospitals including the Iloilo Provincial Hospital in Pototan, private hospitals, the Western Visayas Sanitarium in Santa Barbara and the Don Jose S. Monfort Medical Center Extension Hospital in Barotac Nuevo.
Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon, acting head of the PHO, is encouraging Ilonggos especially in the A1 (workers in frontline health services), A2 (senior citizens) and A3 (persons with comorbidities) priority groups to get vaccinated.
Quiñon said the provincial government’s goal is to vaccinate at least 70 percent of the total population to achieve “herd immunity”.
Meanwhile, Quiñon is reminding those who have yet to receive vaccination to wear facemasks and face shields, observe social distancing, and wash hands regularly.
She also urged the public to minimize going outdoors unless necessary./PN
