IP CHILDREN. Some 141 students belonging to the indigenous people's community in Zamboanga City receive the second dose of vaccine against Covid-19 Tuesday (June 14, 2022). The children, who belong to the Samal and Badjao tribes, are enrolled at the Bihing Tahik Primary School in Barangay Rio Hondo of the city. (Photo courtesy of Christine Lim of Zamboanga CHO)
ZAMBOANGA CITY – At least 141 students from an indigenous people’s community here received Tuesday their second dose of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines.
This, as the City Health Office (CHO) ensures that IP communities, like all other eligible sectors, are included in the vaccination rollout as it aims to protect residents from the virus.
Maria Christine Lim, City Health Office (CHO) education and promotion officer, said the local government has ensured that IP communities are included in the vaccination rollout.
“The students are between 5 and 11 years old belonging to the Samal and Badjao tribes,” Lim said.
Another set of 55 IP students, aged 12 to 17, also received their first primary dose Tuesday, according to Lim.
“IP communities in other barangays are likewise given the opportunity by health workers to be vaccinated against Covid-19 either through fixed sites or house-to-house vaccination drives,” she said.
So far, the CHO has administered over 1.3 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines since the vaccination rolled out here in March of last year.
Of the total dose administered, 683,565 were for the first dose while the remaining 671,762 are fully vaccinated after receiving their second doses.
The number of fully vaccinated individuals represents 93.69 percent of the Department of Health-set target population of 716,960.
At least 156,219 of the total fully vaccinated individuals have received their first booster dose and 2,323 got their second booster doses. (PNA)
