Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson is calling on all local government units to intensify their COVID-19 vaccination and booster drives as Negros Occidental is still lagging behind.
“Let us find ways and think up innovative plans not just to reach the desired numbers, but to achieve our desired end to win this fight against COVID-19,” said Lacson in his speech at the launching of the Bakunahang Bayan PinasLakas Special Vaccination Day at the Murcia Public Plaza on Thursday, September 29.
“This booster vaccination campaign, meant to increase the number of Filipinos who have been given the COVID-19 booster, should be taken as seriously and earnestly as the first vaccination drive. Without this booster, we stand to lose the gains of the first vaccination and we won’t be able to maintain the population’s immunity,” Lacson said.
The goal of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in his first 100 days is to get 90 percent of the country’s senior citizens fully vaccinated and to administer 1st booster doses to 50 percent of the general population, he said.
At present Negros Occidental is lagging behind the national target, “we need to step up and strengthen our vaccination efforts”, Lacson said.
The Negros Occidental vaccination numbers are nothing to be proud of, Lacson said.
Lacson thanked DOH undersecretaries Charade
B. Mercado-Grande and Kenneth G. Ronquillo, who joined the Murcia launching, for helping Negros Occidental in its vaccination efforts.
Ronquillo said he agrees with the move of Negros Occidental to push for the house to house vaccination of seniors.
He assured that the DOH is giving Negros Occidental the necessary help to increase it vaccination numbers.
Murcia Mayor Victor Gerardo Rojas said they are providing rice and food assistance to encourage residents to get vaccinated.
The Bakunahang Bayan program of the national government will continue to bring vaccines to the communities and will focus on areas with high target populations to deliver higher immunization coverage.
Part of the vaccination campaign is the establishment of hospital vaccination sites and the mobilization of hospital vaccination teams.
Negros Occidental has fully vaccinated 78.15 percent of its target general population and 60.74 percent of its senior citizen against COVID-19, a Department of Health report showed on Tuesday.*