BUTUAN CITY -- The government is aiming to inoculate at least 460,000 Caraganons during the National Vaccination Days on November 29 to December 1, 2021, the Department of Health (DOH)-Caraga said Friday, November 26. 

Around 15 million Filipinos are expected to receive COVID-19 jabs during the "Bayanihan, Bakunahan," the government's three-day vaccination campaign to intensify its efforts in inoculating at least 70% of the country's population and achieving herd immunity before the end of the year. 

The DOH-Caraga and the local government units (LGUs) are aiming to vaccinate a total of 460,804 individuals in the region during the three-day vaccination vaccination campaign, targeting an average of 153,601 daily. 

The local health authorities are targeting populous areas in the region such as the cities of Butuan and Surigao, which are considered the economic centers in Caraga. In Butuan City alone, some 56,000 are expected to receive the jabs. 

"This is a big thing because if we can vaccinate more people, more or less we can open up our economy and of course, what we are aiming for here is moving towards normalcy," said Dr. Cesar Cassion, regional director of the DOH-Caraga. 

Dr. Cassion highlighted the significance of the vaccines in regulating the transmission of COVID-19, noting that since its availability, the number of confirmed cases has dwindled. 

Per their latest report, Caraga Region has recorded 14 COVID-19 cases only on November 25, 2021, noting 13 cases still in isolation and one death. This is a drastic decrease in the cases reported in the region compared to the previous months wherein it would record more than 200 cases per day. 

"It's been more than a year and it's a long nightmare already so we really have to cooperate and everyone is enjoined to have themselves vaccinated, especially the vulnerable population," he said. 

"If more people are vaccinated, it would actually bring down severe cases, lessening their risk for hospitalization. This will also lessen the strain in our healthcare system, which was really stretched during the surge and we do not want that to happen again," he added. 

The city government of Butuan has also expressed their full support to the government's vaccination campaign, noting it as an "effective counter strike to halt the spread and persistence of the COVID-19 virus."

"We believe that this intentional conduct to the mass vaccination is very necessary. This campaign supports our local endeavors to end the persistence of the ill-effects of this pandemic ranging from the health crisis to economic devastation," said Mayor Ronnie Vicente Lagnada through his representative City Councilor Cherry May Busa. 

"We appear before all of you, our fellow Butuanons together with our private sectors, business chambers, and government line agencies, to convey to you that the city government will participate in this campaign and we need your participation and support."

With the city being one of the COVID-19 hotspots in the region, the city mayor said that the vaccination has significantly helped their efforts to mitigate the spread of the virus in the city and said that the city is only averaging 45 cases for the last 15 days and recording minimal mortality rate and a huge record of recovery cases. 

Mayor Lagnada also stressed the need to sustain the momentum of the region's gradual recovery especially with the holidays in the offing. 

"We have seen the evidence of how increased vaccination rates have contributed to the active COVID-19 cases and the drop of daily COVID-19 cases. We want to contribute to the national goal to vaccinate 15 million Filipinos across 16 regions outside Metro Manila," he said. 

"Thus, we call our people to please avail the vaccines. Let's make this Christmas season a celebration, connectivity, and harmony," he added. (DMNR/PIA-Caraga)