Ministry of Health–Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Minister Dr. Bashary Latiph (Photo courtesy of BIO-BARMM)
COTABATO CITY – Medical field workers of the Ministry of Health – Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MOH-BARMM) have so far inoculated more than 55,500 people of the region’s top three vaccination priority groups.
Dr. Bashary Latiph, said Wednesday that of the total, 41,899 persons from the A1 to A3 priority groups received their first inoculation, while 13,659 of them completed the two doses.
“In the case of our medical front-liners, a total of 20,226 frontline healthcare workers received their first dose or a high rate of 94.28 percent from our total target of 21,451 individuals,” he said.
“Of these front-liners, 9,961 of them completed their two doses,” Latiph added.
The remaining number of 35,332 vaccinated individuals belonged to the A2 and A3 groups.
People in the A1 priority list include frontline healthcare workers; the A2 group consists of senior citizens or those 60 years old and above; while the A3 includes individuals with comorbidities.
The A4 priority cluster includes other frontline workers such as military troopers and policemen and other essential sectors that have high levels of interaction with or exposure to the public.
“I encourage all our constituents especially those included in the A1, A2, A3, and A4 groups to get vaccinated,” Latiph said.
The health official also noted that the region’s supply of vaccines will suffice the demands for the priority groups.
Since March this year, he said the BARMM received a total of 85,400 doses of vaccines. “This week, 16,000 doses of Sinovac vaccines are expected to arrive from the national government,” Latiph added.
Vaccination in the region started in the first week of March for the provinces of Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur.
A week after, vaccination also kicked off in the island provinces of Sulu, Basilan, and Tawi-Tawi. (PNA)
