ILOILO – In this province, Santa Barbara town has the highest number of recipients in the ongoing barangay-based vaccination against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Data (as of Oct. 12) from the Provincial Health Office (PHO) showed 14,313 Ilonggos availed themselves of the first dose of free anti-coronavirus jabs through the village-based vaccination, 6,025 of which were from Santa Barbara.
A total of 3,140 received their shots in Pavia, 2,851 in Pototan, Oton – 919, Cabatuan – 527, Anilao – 239, Cabatuan – 527, and Calinog – 166.
Other local government units (LGUs) have yet to start their village-based vaccination. The LGUs with high coronavirus cases are being prioritized.
The barangay-based vaccination kicked off on Sept. 8 in Santa Barbara.
According to Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon, PHO head, village-based vaccinations were in accordance with Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr.’s directive to vaccinate more Ilonggos.
The province hopes to reach herd immunity this November.
Santa Barbara’s Mayor Rema Somo, meanwhile, said vaccination has been made closer and easier for residents. They no longer have to go to the town and avoid being exposed.
As of Oct. 13, a total of 17,615 Santa Barbaranhons received their first dose, while 8,107 have been fully vaccinated.
The town has to vaccinate around 49,000 residents or 70 percent of the total population, according to Somo.
To bolster vaccination, the LGU hired two additional doctors to augment the personnel of the Rural Health Unit.
Somo continues to encourage residents to get vaccinated.
As of Oct. 12, Santa Barbara had 2,021 total coronavirus cases – 158 active, 1,824 recovered and 38 deaths./PN