BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
As the provincial government targets the achievement of herd immunity against COVID-19 by February this year, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Ernell Tumimbang reported yesterday that 1,135,731 Negrenses have already been vaccinated with at least one dose, as of January 9.
Tumimbang said the figure represents 62.22 percent of the 1,8825,373 individuals being targeted for vaccination. To achieve herd immunity against the virus requires 70 percent vaccination of the targeted population.
This is an improvement from the 60.87 percent (1,111,083) vaccinated as of January 2, he stressed.
Tumimbang further reported that 873,223, or 47.84 percent, of 1.8 million target has been fully vaccinated, an increase of 5.67 percent from the 769,746 or 42.17 percent fully vaccinated on January 2.
The Provincial Health Office and various city and municipal health offices have to vaccinate 689,639 more persons to achieve the 70 percent targeted immunity against the virus.
Tumimbang admitted that some local government units with low turnout of vaccinees are being confronted with problems on educating some of the people, while others are “choosy” in the vaccines to be administered on them.
There are many vaccines, but no takers, especially those in remote LGUs, he lamented.
Based on the report of the Department of Health, the top eight Negros Occidental LGUs with high number of vaccinees are La Carlota City, Murcia, Cadiz City, Sagay City, Talisay City, EB Magalona, Victorias City and Pulupandan, while the nine LGUs with low percentage of their target for vaccination are Calatrava, Toboso, Cauayan, La Castellana, San Carlos City, Moises Padilla, Manapla, Isabela and Sipalay City.*
