Malay LGU seeks more COVID-19 vaccines to achieve Boracay herd immunity

The local government of Malay, Aklan, which includes Boracay Island, requested more COVID-19 vaccines as infections were increasing in their province.

According to Joseph Morong's "24 Oras" report, the Malay LGU reported over 14 active cases of the viral ailment.

Nenette Aguirre Graf of Malay's Sangguniang Bayan Committee on Tourism said they were looking to vaccinate at least 40,000 people in Boracay to achieve herd immunity.

Hear immunity is achieved if 70% of the population is inoculated.

"Boracay has a population of 40,000. I hope at least 40,000 people will get vaccinated so we can obtain herd immunity. With this, Boracay will be declared as a safe destination," Graf said in Filipino and English.

To minimize the chain of COVID-19 transmission, the local government also banned gatherings at the beach during the Feast of San Juan Bautista, which is held every June 24.

Aside from Malay LGU, the Iloilo City government also asked the government to send more vaccines in other high-risk areas, lamenting the supposed recommendation of OCTA Research Group that vaccine deployment must be maintained in the NCR Plus 8 areas.

But Malacañang denied this, saying Metro Manila and the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal only received 32% of the country's 12 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines. — Consuelo Marquez/DVM, GMA News