ALABEL, Sarangani – The Department of Health Region XII is gearing up for the roll-out of the National Vaccination Days on November 29-30, and December 1, to ramp up the Covid-19 vaccination rate in the country.

With this, a coordination meeting was held via Zoom app on November 23 to discuss the roll-out strategy proposal for the massive vaccination drive.

Leaders of local government units, LGU health offices, LGU information offices, LGU data managers, LGU disaster risk reduction and management offices, and other private and government agencies in SOCCSKSARGEN attended the meeting hosted by the Department of the Interior and Local Government XII and DOH-Center for Health Development XII.

In the discussion, DOH XII officials said they intend to vaccinate 935,682 individuals in the region during the 3-day vaccination, with 311,894 target jabs per day. This would support the national government’s goal to inoculate 15 million Filipinos.

To accommodate this target population, SOCCSKSARGEN still needs additional 1,775 vaccination teams to complete the 2,079 vaccination teams requirement. While, 360 more vaccination sites are needed to hit the 693 vaccination sites requirement.

In Sarangani, a total of 134,484 individuals are targeted to be inoculated during the 3-day activity with 44,828 jabs daily target.

Regional Director Josephine Cabrido-Leysa of DILG XII said Region 12 has the least vaccination teams and sites. To address this, she encouraged all private and government agencies to take part in the massive inoculation activity.

DOH XII said they need more medical, nursing, allied health professionals, health educators, and data professionals as volunteers for the 3-day activity.

Leysa regretfully reported that Region XII is among the regions in the country with the lowest coverage rate in the implementation of Covid-19 vaccination.

In a DOH XII report as of November 23, Region XII has only 25.63% coverage rate or 894,625 fully vaccinated individuals against the 3,490,115 target or the 70% of the population.

DILG XII aims to reach the 48.05% completion rate target in the duration of the 3-day vaccination to hit the 70% herd immunity by the end of the year.

“The success of this endeavor lies with the whole-of-community approach and the whole-of-nation approach for a strong and healthy community in our region,” Leysa said.

The National Covid-19 Vaccination is dubbed as Bayanihan, Bakunahan, Ligtas Lakas Buong Pinas, under Presidential Proclamation No. 1253. (Jori Mae R. Samillano/SARANGANI PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE)