VACCINATION. A health worker prepares to administer the Covid-19 vaccine in this undated photo in Catarman, Northern Samar. The Department of Health is eyeing to administer the first booster shots of Covid-19 vaccines to 50 percent of the eligible population ages 12 years old and above and to vaccinate the remaining five to 11 years old during the second round of the vaccination drive. (Photo courtesy of Northern Samar provincial information office)
TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Health (DOH) is eyeing to administer the first booster shots of Covid-19 vaccines to 50 percent of the eligible population aged 12 years old and above and to vaccinate the remaining five to 11 years old during the second round of vaccination drive.
To reach the target, the DOH regional office here is leading a vaccination drive dubbed Bakunahang Bayan from Dec. 5 to 7, engaging the different local government units, and health centers, said DOH regional information officer Jelyn Lopez-Malibago in a phone interview Monday.
“If we will not be able to reach the target in three days, we hope to attain the goal before the end of 2022. We are doing this with the foreseen influx of local and international travelers and mass gatherings tied with the holiday season,” Malibago added.
The DOH is calling for a nationwide effort to facilitate the rapid mobilization of vaccination services among the eligible population.
Since the launching of the first reiteration of the Bakunahang Bayan on July 26, 2022, Eastern Visayas administered 524,822 booster doses or 15 percent of the target population.
From the region's target of 735,631 for children ages five to 11 years old for the primary series vaccination, a total of 275,167 or 37.4 percent of children have received their first dose, and a total of 227,055 or 30.9 percent got their second dose.
At least 2.86 million or 84.11 percent of the region’s 3.4 million target population received their primary series of Covid-19 vaccine.
Through a presidential directive dated Oct. 25, 2022, the health department is committed to increase Covid-19 vaccination coverage before the end of 2022. (PNA)
