DOH targets 50% vaccination coverage in ZamPen by end of 2021

 By Myra Cel L. Espinosa

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Nov 3 (PIA) – The Department of Health (DOH)-9 continues its vaccination efforts and targeting at least 50% of qualified individuals in Zamboanga Peninsula to be vaccinated by the end of this year. 

As of October 30, 2021, based from the DOH report on their vaccination coverage, 603,592 or 31.6% from the priority groups are already fully vaccinated. 

“We urge the local government units to beef-up their vaccination activities to achieve our target,” said DOH-9 Assistant Regional Director, Dr. Augusto Manolo Alpichi.

(Photo Courtesy of Christine Lim, City Health Office)

DOH encourages local government units in the region to improve the vaccination roll-out through adding more vaccination centers and hiring additional vaccinators. 

From the report of the vaccination coverage, the A2 priority group or the senior citizens still shows low coverage with 46.97% rate. 

DOH continues to encourage senior citizens and their families to get vaccinated as they are one of the most vulnerable of being infected with COVID-19.

“Our vaccination continues as we have regular arrival of vaccines in the region,” Dr. Alpichi said. Vaccines arrive twice a week in the region.

Meanwhile, some of the cities and provinces already started the inoculation of COVID-19 vaccines for pediatric A3 (with co-morbidity) ages 12 to 17 group. (EDT/MLE/PIA9-Zamboanga City)