A total of 1,280,654 residents or 61.03 percent of Negros Occidental’s target population have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as of Saturday, April 16, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said Monday, April 18.
There are also 106,046 Negrenses due for their second dose or 5.05 percent of the target, he added.
Vaccinated with at least one dose are 1,386,700 residents or 66.08 percent of the target.
Negros Occidental needs to vaccinate 711,721 residents more to hit 100 percent of its target population, Diaz said.
Local government units that have vaccinated above 70 percent of their target populations are La Carlota City – 82.52 percent, Pulupandan – 79.60 percent, Cadiz City – 75.43 percent, San Enrique – 73.63 percent, EB Magalona – 72. 52 percent, and Sagay City – 71.02 percent.
Victorias City has vaccinated 69.67 percent of its target population.
The national Inter-Agency Task forces has placed Sagay, Victorias and La Carlota cities, and EB Magalona, Pulupandan and San Enrique towns under Alert Level 1, while the rest of the province is under Alert Level 2.
No explanation was given on why Cadiz City that has a vaccination rate above 70 percent was not included in the areas under Alert Level 1.
Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said he hopes the alert level de-escalation of the six local government units will inspire other LGUs to step up their vaccination drives.
Lacson also hopes that another COVID-19 surge after the May polls does not happen as warned by the Department of Health.
He stressed the need for residents to continue to observe health protocols such as social distancing and wearing of masks during the campaign period, and to get vaccinated.*