70% of individuals in ZamPen fully vaccinated

By Gemerick E. Zapanta

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Jun 22 (PIA) – The Department of Health (DOH)-9 reported that Zamboanga Peninsula region has achieved its goal of 70% COVID-19 fully vaccinated individuals.

During the PIA Kapihan na Zamboanga COVID-19 update on June 21, Dr. Mary Germeyn Punzalan said the country was able to hit the 70 million mark of fully vaccinated individuals in the entire Philippines.

“It was a huge milestone for us,’’ she said.

ZamPen is already at 2.2 million fully vaccinated individuals or 71.43% of the population. However, the region still has low coverage in the first booster dose vaccination counting only 355,000 individuals or 21% recorded out of the 1.7 million eligible population. 

DOH-9 continuously urged parents to get their children vaccinated. As of this report, only 25% out of the total target pediatric population is recorded in the region. 

Aside from the pediatric vaccination and first booster dose, ZamPen also started the vaccination for the second booster dose for the frontline health workers, senior citizens and immunocompromised priority groups.

Eligible individuals can get the second booster shot within the four months interval from the first booster dose.

DOH-9 is still waiting for the guidelines and target date of second booster dose vaccination for the general population.

Dr. Punzalan emphasized the importance of the booster dose to address the low coverage on booster vaccination where it can provide additional protection to the people and the community against COVID-19.

“One thing we can really do now is to make them understand the need for booster and to intensify our social mobilization activity, and we talk to people,” she added. (RVC/EDT/MLE/GEZ/PIA9-Zamboanga City)