TACLOBAN CITY, LEYTE (PIA) – With the looming possibilities of surge of COVID-19 cases due to the forthcoming festivities, the Department of Health Eastern Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH-EVCHD) is set to formally launch today, December 6, the 3-day PinasLakas Special Vaccination Days - Bakunahang Bayan Part II with DOH Undersecretary Camilo Pancratius Cascolan to grace the activity.

The activity will be conducted through settting-based vaccination in malls, terminals, adjacent to schools, workplaces, clinics, pharmacies and fast-food establishments across the region.

Dr. Rodolfo Antonio M. Albornoz, assistant regional director of the Department of Health Eastern Visayas has called on all national government agencies and the local government units to provide support to the Bakunahang Bayan Part II in order to improve the COVID-19 booster coverage and to achieve the wall of immunity.

“Again, we appreciate hindi naman kayang gawin ito ng health sector alone-the DOH, ano ito whole-of-society o whole-of-government approach at kaakibat natin dito ang mga partners sa RVOC committee na eventually ang target naman natin dito na maging safe at protektado ang mga kababayan natin sa Eastern Visayas,” Albornoz said.

Albornoz said while the gathering of people cannot be avoided this holiday season, it would be better for Filipinos to be protected.

The 3-day vaccination drive aims to facilitate the rapid mobilization of vaccination services in order to reach 50% booster coverage among eligible population 12 years old and above and the remaining 5-11 years old and those individuals with due second doses, missed doses or booster doses particularly in health and economic sector.

To date, out of the 3,405,610 target eligible population in Eastern Visayas, some 2,864,805 individuals are now fully vaccinated or had their second dose of the primary series of COVID-19 vaccine which is equivalent to 84.1%. However, only 15.4% or a total of 524,822 individuals got their first booster dose.

As to 5-11 years old, the region has targeted 735,631 children but only 275,167 which is equivalent to 37.4% got their first dose and 227,055 or equivalent to 30.9% have received their second dose and no record on the booster shots in said age group.

Meanwhile, some 36,809 teenagers aged 12-17 years old have already received their first booster dose.

As to A2 priority group population or the senior citizens, out of the 389,646 target individuals, 212,686 got their first dose while 273,932 senior citizens are now fully vaccinated for the primary dose. However, there are remaining 76,749 senior citizens who are not yet fully vaccinated to achieve the 90% primary dose.

With this trend, DOH encourages all agencies both national and local and the community to provide support during the 3-day special vaccination days from December 5-7, 2022.

The Special Vaccination Days Bakunahang Bayan Part I under the Marcos administration was conducted on September 26-30, 2022. (LDL/CBA/PIA-8)