MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--The Provincial Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (PIATF) is gearing up and preparing all the necessary logistics for the three-day nationwide coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) immunization dubbed as ‘Bayanihan Bakunahan.’

An aggressive initiative of the government, Bayanihan Bakunahan aims to administer five million vaccine doses daily starting November 29 to December 1, 2021. 

On Tuesday, November 23, the PIATF conducted a 'command conference and orientation of the Bayanihan Bakunahan’ to get the commitment and support of national line agencies, religious and business sector, civil society organizations, and partner non-government organizations to the national vaccination days to further accelerate the Covid-19 vaccination rollout.

“We are hoping to achieve the target given to us by the national government which is 100,000 jabs per day, so that would be 300,000 for three days. Hopefully, this will contribute to the national government target of five million per day or 15 million for three days,” said Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) chief Dr. Alinader Minalang.

He said that through this drive they would be able to ramp up vaccination, immunize 50% of the target population in the province by the end of the year, and achieve 70%-80% herd immunity at the end of the first quarter of 2022.

To date, only 60,250 induvial or 9% of the eligible population in the province were fully vaccinated.

To ensure the efficient and peaceful conduct of the vaccination, a Provincial Vaccination Operation Center will be set up by the PIATF.

The Ministry of Health through the IPHO and City Health Office will set the doses to be administered daily per municipality. Vaccination sites and teams will also be finalized.

According to Minalang, schools and big establishments will be used as vaccination sites in addition to the Amai Pakpak Medical Center and District Hospitals.

"We are hoping na makapagset-up up tayo ng mga 300-400 vaccination sites," he said.

The private sector, religious organizations, and medical societies are being tapped to help raise awareness about the Bayanihan Bakunahan and amplify the information drive to influence more residents to get vaccinated. 

The use of quad and social media will also be intensified to provide more information especially to those who are still hesitant about getting jabbed. 

Earlier, the Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD) of the Bangsamoro Government announced that it will support the vaccination drive through the provision of relief aid to indigents who will get their jabs during the 3-day campaign.

A separate conference between the PIATF and local chief executives is meanwhile slated to be conducted this week to drum up support from local government units. (APB/PIA Lanao del Sur)