LGUs to beef-up vaccination drive - DOH 9

By: Jayson R. Aucensillo

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Jan 17 (PIA) -- The Department of Health (DOH)-9 is hopeful to inoculate the remaining unvaccinated individuals as the COVID-19 cases in Zamboanga Peninsula region is rising once again.

Thus, the health department is urging the local government units here to intensify the COVID-19 vaccination drive in their respective localities.

“There are still around 1.4-M unvaccinated individuals in the region and with the help of the LGUs, we hope that they will be inoculated,” DOH-9 Regional Director Joshua G. Brillantes said in the recent Kapihan na Zamboanga COVID-19 Update.

The director has also lamented that in spite of the strengthened COVID-19 information drive of the government, there are still residents who are apprehended to take the COVID-19 vaccines.

More so, Dr. Brillantes also reiterated to all fully vaccinated individuals to not be ‘too complacent’ especially in going out to public places with least protections against the existing and more communicable COVID-19 Omicron variant.

“Even if we are fully vaccinated, let’s continue to abide by the public health protocols and be compliant to the existing COVID-19 ordinances,” Dr. Brillantes said.

The DOH-9 committed to intensify telemedicine and teleconsultation services to avoid close contacts to other people and advised hospitals to do accordion type of accommodation to easily expand COVID-19 bed capacity as well as to stock more supplies of medicines, PPEs, and oxygen that will be used for the current pandemic.

As of this writing, there have been no recorded cases of the COVID-19 Omicron in the entire region and travel requirements are now rigorous as COVID-19 precautions. (RVC/JRA/PIA9-Zamboanga City)