ILOILO – A total of 5,397 residents of three towns in Iloilo province availed themselves of vaccines against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) through the barangay-based vaccination roll out.
According to Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon, head of the Provincial Health Office (PHO), the province has three town-recipients so far: Santa Barbara with 3,186; Pavia (1,732); and Pototan (479).
“This is partial data pa lang. I know this can be more,” said Quiñon.
Among those who availed themselves of free jabs were healthcare workers, senior citizens, persons with co-morbidities and indigents.
The AstraZeneca vaccine purchased by the provincial government was used to vaccinate the recipients.
The barangay vaccination roll-out will also begin in Oton town, particularly in Barangay Abilay Norte, and in Anilao.
The priorities for barangay-based vaccination are the towns with the highest number of COVID-19 cases.
Based on PHO data, Oton had 276 active cases, Santa Barbara (243), Pavia (324), Pototan (290), and Anilao (82).
The barangay-based vaccination roll-out was one of the adjustments made by Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. to curb the surge in COVID-19 cases in barangays.
“Gina-monitor man naton ang barangay nga critical so didto kita mauna para ang ila nga mga constituents indi na magpa-banwa nga magbakuna,” said Defensor./PN