BUTUAN CITY -- Over 102,000 Caraganons have been vaccinated since the nationwide launching of the "Bayanihan, Bakunahan" National COVID-19 Vaccination Days (NVD) on November 29, 2021. 

Per the Department of Health (DOH)-Caraga's report on Tuesday, November 30, around 102,341 Caraganons received jabs during the first day of the "Bayanihan, Bakunahan," the government's three-day campaign to intensify its national vaccination program for COVID-19, wherein 15 million Filipinos are expected to get vaccinated. 

This covers at least 27.73% of the total target set by the agency, which is around 460,804 individuals. 

Of the said number, 25,156 are from the province of Agusan del Sur; 19,775 from Surigao del Sur; 10,660 from Surigao del Norte; 10,497 are from Agusan del Norte, and 4,373 are from the Province of Dinagat Islands. 

In terms of coverage per city, 10,906 are from Butuan City; 5,829 are from Bayugan City; 5,209 are from Surigao City; 5,195 are from Bislig City; 2,425 are from Tandag City; and 2,316 are from Cabadbaran City. 

The DOH-Caraga has set a daily target of 153,601 individuals. To achieve this, the department, together with the local government units, set-up more vaccination sites.  

"We increased the number of vaccination sites. We have identified mega vaccination sites, which will accommodate a minimum of 1,000 individuals, as well as temporary vaccination sites, which will cater at least 500 individuals," said DOH-Caraga regional director Dr. Cesar Cassion. 

In addition to setting up temporary vaccination posts, mobile vaccination teams were organized in partnership with stakeholders and the private sector and were sent to far-flung areas. 

Thousands of Butuanons flocked SM City Butuan, an identified regular vaccination site in Butuan City, to get vaccinated during the "Bayanihan, Bakunahan."

Some took the chance to get vaccinated during the observance of the national vaccination days since, as indicated in the Proclamation No. 1253, employees of the government and those from the private sector will not be marked absent. One of them is Ejie Vicente, a 21-year-old resident of Brgy. 14-Limaha. 

Apart from his tight work schedule, Vicente has finally decided to get vaccinated after months of hesitation after being convinced from his peers' experience with the vaccines. 

"I had second thoughts about getting vaccinated before because I was still observing my friends' experiences with the vaccines. Now, I have decided to get vaccinated so that I could also protect myself from COVID-19," he said. 

Eighteen-year-old Jade Castro, resident of Brgy. Obrero wanted to get vaccinated to stay protected during the resumption of face-to-face classes. For this reason, he is encouraging his fellow youth to get vaccinated. 

"I am encouraging my fellow youth to get vaccinated because this is also for our safety," said Castro. 

For Prosperidad Prieto, 60 years old and a resident of Brgy. Baan Km. 3, getting vaccinated not only meant having an added layer of protection for her but this is also her way of contributing to the economy's recovery from the ill-effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

"We need to get vaccinated for our safety and also for us to get back to living our lives normally and help the economy recover. We can minimize our suffering by getting ourselves vaccinated," she said. 

With the holidays fast approaching, getting vaccinated is also important to avoid another surge of COVID-19 in the region, said the DOH-Field Implementation and Coordination Team (DOH-FICT) Visayas and Mindanao ASec. Roy B. Ferrer, who served as the special guest during the launching of the NVD in the region. 

For the health official, getting vaccinated is "the best gift" one can offer their loved ones during this Christmas season. 

"The faster we vaccinate Filipinos at the soonest time, the better and safer for all of us," said ASec. Ferrer. 

"Remember this always: to vaccinate is to protect. As we near Christmas and New Year, the season for gatherings, the best gift we can give is to get vaccinated; the best resolution we can make is to be protected," he added. 

The three-day national vaccination campaign is in support of the government's goal to achieve herd immunity by the end of the year. (DMNR/PIA-Caraga)