DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, June 21 (PIA) -- The Negros Oriental Provincial Health Officer urged parents to have their children vaccinated against COVID-19 over the summer break in preparatio for the resumption of face-to-face classes in the next school year.
Currently, the province registered a 13.15% (23,231) accomplishment in the vaccination rate among five to 11 years old.

“For the parents, bakasyon na. Palihog na moduol na ta sa nearest vaccination center so that ang atong mga bata mabakunahan na and be ready for the opening of school year (For the parents, it’s already vacation period for your children. Please bring them, especially those who have not yet undergone the first dose of vaccination, to the nearest vaccination center so they will be ready for the opening of the next school year),” said Dr. Liland Estacion, the provincial health officer, during her virtual press conference on June 20.

The Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) and the Provincial Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) aims to vaccinate at least 176,603 children within the said age bracket based on the June 19 data of the IPHO.

On the other hand, 31,210 children are waiting for their second dose of the vaccine.

The IPHO data also showed that there are 77,561 young people aged 12 to 17 years old who have completed their vaccine doses while 83,386 are waiting for their second jab.

Estacion said the province logged a 52% (148,405) accomplishment rate in its target for the vaccination rollout for young adults.

Aside from school children aged five to 11 years old, Estacion also appealted to senior citizens to be vaccinated since the province has recorded a 53% accomplishment rate in its vaccination rollout for A2 category since the start of vaccination last year.

“Dili na ta mahadlok because nakita nato ang bakuna makaprotektar sa atoa. Naa tay loved ones, if we really love our families, please bring them to vaccination sites (There’s no reason for us to be afraid anymore because it has been proven that vaccines protect us. So please, we all have loved ones. If we love our families, please bring them to vaccination sites),” Estacion added.

As of June 19, there are a total of 34,972 persons under A1 category who have completed their vaccine jabs; 67,690 under A2; 68,555 under A3; 171,810 under A4 category; 96,193 under A5; and 120,766 under the Rest of Adult Population Category (ROAP).

Meanwhile, a total of 90,742 individuals have taken their first booster shots while 2,247 persons under A1 and A2 have taken their second booster shots. (RAL/PIA7 Negros Oriental)