ILOILO – The provincial government would be administering coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) jabs to more than 227,000 children here.
Here’s the projected breakdown, based on the data from the Provincial Health Office (PHO): 12 years old – 37,510; 13 years old – 37,442; 14 years old – 38,017; 15 years old – 40,293; 16 years old – 36,204; and 17 years old – 38,196.
Twenty local government units (LGUs) have the most targets: Oton (10,447), Passi City (9,469), Pototan (8,826), Lambunao (8,658), Dumangas (8,125), Carles (8,013), Miag-ao (7,944), Janiuay (7,513), Tigbauan (7,373), Calinog (7,103), Cabatuan (6,871), Barotac Nuevo (6,366), Pavia (6,537), Ajuy (6,145), San Joaquin (6,281), Barotac Viejo (5,386), Estancia (5,707), and Concepcion (5,074).
Pre-registration is ongoing, according to Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr.
Once he secures the go signal from the Department of Health or the national Inter-Agency Task Force, “pwede na kita ka bakuna,” said Defensor.
The governor said it is important to have enough vaccines when the pediatric vaccination begins so as not to leave out those in the priority groups.
Parents are urged to pre-register their kids with their Rural Health Units (RHUs) for pediatric vaccination.
Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon, PHO head, clarified, however, that “mintras wala pa go signal halin sa DOH nga puede na, indi ta anay magsugod bakuna.”
In the meantime, too, according to Quiñon, vaccination teams will focus on healthcare workers, senior citizens, persons with comorbidities, economic frontliners, and indigents.
As of Oct. 27, a total of 349,293 individuals – 24 percent of the target population – have been fully vaccinated.
These included healthcare workers – 52,406, senior citizens – 57,870, persons with comorbidities – 74,346, uniformed personnel – 65,102, indigents – 9,404, and others – 341.
The province has to vaccinate 1,448,757 people to achieve herd immunity./PN
