Gov't to hold targeted special COVID-19 vaccination days in Cebu, BARMM

The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday said targeted special vaccination days will be held in Cebu and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to address the low vaccination coverage in the region.

At the Palace briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the focused vaccination is set to be conducted in Cebu from March 29 to 31, and in BARMM from March 30 to April 1.

“Mayroon na po tayong nakatalaga na mga dates kung saan tayo ay magkakaroon ng Bayanihan, Bakunahan or Special Focus Vaccination' sa March 29 to 31 meron po tayong targeted vaccination sa Cebu or Region 7. And on March 30, 31, and April 1 we have special vaccination days in BARMM,” Vergeire said.

(We have set dates where we will have a Bayanihan, Bakunahan or Special Focus Vaccination in Cebu or Region 7 on March 29 to 31. And on March 30, 31, and April 1 we have special vaccination days in BARMM.)

“So abangan po ng ating mga kababayan sa mga lugar na ‘yan, pupunta po ang ating mga deployed teams para matulungan natin ang mga regions na ito upang tumaas po ang antas ng pagbabakuna,” she added.

(To residents in those areas, wait for the teams that will be deployed to help increase the level of vaccination there.)

The DOH earlier said the government is looking at providing some form of assistance or "ayuda" in exchange for residents getting vaccinated against COVID-19 in BARMM.

The department identified five challenges in the vaccination rollout in the region such as vaccine hesitancy or preference, limited manpower, fake news, late submission of daily vaccination reports, and lukewarm support from local chief executives and barangay local government units (BLGUs).

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier expressed concern that some communities in Mindanao are resisting the COVID-19 vaccine

COVID-19 infections continue to decline

Vergeire, meanwhile, said COVID-19 infections in the country continue to decline following the Omicron surge last January.

The Health undersecretary said they recorded an average of 454 new COVID-19 cases per day, which is lower than the 490 cases recorded per day in December last year.

“Bumaba na po ng 15% mula noong nakaraang linggo ang bilang ng mga kaso sa ating bansa. Sa kasalukuyan tinataya po na 454 new cases ang mayroon tayo kada araw mas mababa po ito ng kaunti kumpara noong nag-umpisa tayo noong nakaraang Disyembre na nasa 490 cases kada araw, ito po ay noong bago tayo tamaan ng Omicron variant,” she said.

(The number of COVID-19 cases in our country has dropped by 15% since last week. Currently, it is estimated that we have 454 new cases per day, which is a little lower compared to when we started last December with 490 cases per day, this is before we were hit by the Omicron variant.)

The national hospital admissions, on the other hand, have also declined by 75%, while total bed utilization also remains at “low risk.”

“Bumaba na ng 75% ang ating national admissions mula sa peak na 5,218 admissions noong Enero, nakikita po nagpa-plateu na nitong mga nakaraang araw,” Vergeire said.

(Our national admissions also dropped by 75% from the peak of 5,218 admissions in January. We can see that it has been plateauing in recent days.)

“Nananatili po tayong nasa 'low risk' ang total bed utilization na nasa 17%, bumaba rin po ang bilang ng mga kababayan naadmit sa intensive care unit (ICU) na ngayon nasa 575 admissions na lamang,” she added.

(We remain at 'low risk' with total bed utilization at 17%. The number of individuals admitted to the ICU has also decreased and is now at only 575 admissions.) —KBK, GMA News