BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The Provincial Health Office (PHO) in Negros Occidental expressed optimism that by the end of this month the province would have fully vaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) 70 percent of the target population.
So far, 59.40 percent have been fully vaccinated, equivalent to 1,084,254 individuals while 176,489 more are waiting for their second dose to be deemed as fully vaccinated, too.
On the other hand, 564,628 individuals have yet to receive even just a single dose of the vaccine against COVID-19.
La Carlota City is currently on top of the list with 89 percent of its target population already fully-vaccinated, followed by Pulupandan town with 79.67 percent, Cadiz City with 79.27 percent, and the town of Murcia with 77.23 percent.
Meanwhile the cities of Sagay and Victorias, as well as the towns of E.B. Magalona and San Enrique have already hit above 70 percent of their target.
There were doubts that the province would be able to hit the February deadline. The vaccination program slowed down dramatically following the onslaught of super typhoon “Odette” in December last year./PN