Benguet will work double time to attain population protection by yearend by vaccinating at least 70 percent of the eligible population in the province against the Covid-19.
Gov. Melchor Diclas said the province is mobilizing its vaccination teams from the barangay, municipal, and provincial levels to expedite vaccination of around 338,000 individuals in the 13 towns.
Diclas said the Provincial Health Office is aiming for the target individuals to get their first dose by the end of November and be fully vaccinated by yearend.
Diclas said 49 percent of the 338,000 target population received their first dose while 35 percent are fully vaccinated.
“We have a long way to go but I have directed all our district hospitals and vaccination teams in the province to conduct vaccination even during weekends,” Diclas said.
All rural health units, district hospitals, the Benguet General Hospital, and PHO vaccination teams will be mobilized during the three-day nationwide mass vaccination on Nov. 29, 30, and Dec. 1.
La Trinidad has the highest target population during the three-day event with 22,294 individuals followed by Itogon with 10,126; Tuba with 9,786; Buguias with 7,086; and Mankayan with 6,550.
The rest of the municipalities have at least 2,000 to 3,000 target individuals.
Diclas said vaccination of the pediatric population, or those aged 12 to 17 years old is ongoing in the 13 towns.
The rollout of booster shots from healthcare frontliners is also being sustained.
The province now has 184 active cases for a total of 21,883 confirmed Covid-19 cases since 2020 with 20,938 recoveries and 761 deaths. – Ofelia C. Empian
