GENERAL SANTOS CITY (PIA) -- An official from the Department of Health-Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD) Soccsksargen said that the vaccination rate of Region XII is still at 63.1% and needs to further improve if it wants to entirely get to alert level 1.
“As of today (June 22), around 6:30 a.m. we have a target of 4,072,485 and the fully vaccinated individuals for the region is at 2,569,854, so that it's only 63.1%,” said National Immunization Program Medical Coordinator Dr. Edvir Jane S. Montañer of the DOH-CHD Soccsksargen when asked about the status of the region’s ongoing COVID-19 vaccination activities during the "Kapihan sa PIA" on Wednesday at SM City General Santos here.
She then enumerated the vaccination accomplishments as of June 22 of the areas comprising Soccsksargen. She said that of the total targeted population for inocualtion per area, North Cotabato has only acheived 57.74%; South Cotabato, 70.03%; Sultan Kudarat, 58.73%; Sarangani, 54.67%; Cotabato City, 70.84%; and General Santos City, 74.80%.
Montañer explained that there are four parameters for an area to be de-escalated to Alert Level 1 and these are low to minimal risk classification, total bed utilization rate of less than 50%, full vaccination of 70% of target population, and full vaccination of 70% of the target population of its priority group A2 or senior citizens.
She added, however, that the region is implementing a granular de-escalation for areas which have already met the parameters or criteria.
“For the de-escalation, South Cotabato province is now under alert level 1. We have now one province out of the 4 provinces that is enjoying alert level 1. Also, Cotabato City, they’re still under us. For the granular, for North Cotabato we have Kidapawan City, President Roxas, Arakan, and Antipas; for South Cotabato, we have Koronadal, Polomolok, Banga, Tantangan, and Sto. Niño; and for Sultan Kudarat we have Tacurong City and two coastal towns, Lebak and Kalamansig. Hopefully at the end of June we can de-escalate General Santos City to Level 1.”
General Santos, the only highly urbanized city in Region XII, is still under Alert Level 2 as it has yet to increase its vaccination rate for senior citizens group from 56.86% to at least 70%.
“They need 70% of the total number. Actually, ongoing po ginagawa po ng Gensan City together with the DICT and our data manager to calibrate…Yun pa po ang kanila pong wino-work out up to this date because they have given us a number of the actual number of senior citizens compared with their targets, but still we need to talk and sit down para maayos po yun. Hopefully, before June 30 General Santos City will also be enjoying the de-escalation to alert level 1.”
Meanwhile, for the 5-11 years old, Montañer said they have enough vaccines to cater more than 50% of the age group.
“Ang pakiusap namin sa mga vaccination teams kung pupwede kokonti lang po ang wastage, we need to consume the doses per vial so as to accommodate more vaccinees for the age group.”
She added that supply of the Pfizer vaccine for the 5-11 years old will last until June or July while assuring that new vaccine procurement is now being facilitated by the national government in time for the next administration. (PGFruylan/PIA-SarGen)
