DAVAO CITY - The Department of Health launched another round of its Bakunahang Bayan nationwide vaccination drive this December.

In Davao  City, DOH Officer-In-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire attended the ceremonial kick-off held on December 5 at the Tomas Claudio Health Center in the city. She also graced the flag-raising ceremony at the City Hall where she met city government officials led by Davao City Vice-Mayor Jay Melchor Quitain Jr.

During her message at the flag-raising ceremony, OIC Vergeire asked for support to increase the booster vaccination rate which remains low.

“Dito po sa Davao City I’d like to congratulate all of you, dito po sa Davao ang full vaccinated po ay 101%..nandito na naman kami ulit para humingi ng tulong sa inyo dahil dito naman po sa Davao ang nakaka-receive po ng booster ay nasa 25% pa lamang,” she said.

The DOH OIC said the Bakunahang Bayan this December is aiming to hike the booster shot vaccination rate.

“Ngayon sa buong bansa ang booster vaccination rate is 26%. So gusto natin maipataas ng 50% dito sa bakunahang bayan,” Vergeire said.

During her visit at the Tomas Claudio Health Center, OIC Vergeire administered a COVID-19 vaccine to seven-year -old Clarisse Ann Asoy.

The Department of Health-XI also wants more children aged five to 11-year-olds like Clarisse to be vaccinated as Davao City has the lowest number of 5-11 year old vaccinees with 19.6% vaccinated for first dose and 15.4% fully vaccinated.

“We want to increase the vaccination for 5 to 11 years old kasi po for Davao Region si Davao City pa ang napakaraming bata ang hindi pa nabakunahan ng COVID-19 vaccine,” says Dr. Janis Olavides,focal person of the COVID-19 vaccination program DOH-XI said.

They are also targeting 50% of the population in the region to receive booster doses as currently the region has 17.7% of the target population receiving first booster dose with just 3.4% getting their second booster dose. (PIA/RG Alama)