NegOcc leads WV in unvaccinated persons

By Joseph B.A. Marzan

Latest data from the Department of Health-Western Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH-WV CHD) indicated that Negros Occidental has the most number of unvaccinated persons in the region against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

DOH-WV CHD COVID vaccination data as of 12 a.m. of Oct. 25, 2021 showed that Negros Occidental still has 1.39 million persons left unvaccinated against COVID.

Iloilo province has 959,102, followed by Capiz (388,208), Antique (311,800), Aklan (251,962), Bacolod City (191,819), and Guimaras (87,682).

But as to the number of fully vaccinated persons, Negros Occidental has the second highest (303,640) after Iloilo province (338,506), followed by Iloilo City (291,004), Bacolod City (168,648), Capiz (132,010), Aklan (123,632), Antique (102,316), and Guimaras (31,844).

Negros Occidental also has the second most number of partially vaccinated persons (355,833) after Iloilo province (399,831), and is ahead of Iloilo City (314,531), Bacolod City (184,533), Aklan (159,062), Capiz (142,580), Antique (94,336), and Guimaras (37,085).

Iloilo City, which is in the bottom of the list, has vaccinated an excess of 10,465 of its 2021 population (478,817), according to the DOH-WV CHD data.

When it comes to vaccination rates, Iloilo City leads the fully vaccinated (86.82 percent), followed by Bacolod City (41.06 percent), Aklan (28.91 percent), Guimaras (24.33 percent), Antique (23.66 percent), Iloilo province (23.37 percent), Capiz (23.23 percent), and Negros Occidental (16.63 percent).

Iloilo City also comes first with the partial vaccination rate (93.84 percent), followed by Bacolod City (44.93 percent), Aklan (37.19 percent), Guimaras (28.33 percent), Iloilo province (27.6 percent), Capiz (25.09 percent), Antique (21.81 percent), and Negros Occidental (19.49 percent).

VAX FOR MINORS

Meanwhile, after more than a month of pleading with the national government, the Iloilo City government announced on Oct 25, 2021 that it will finally start COVID-19 vaccination for minors (12 to 17 years old) on Oct 29.

The inoculations will be piloted at the St. Paul’s Hospital Iloilo, based on the Department of Health’s recommendation for hospital-based vaccination.

As of Oct 22, around 5,894 minors were pre-registered for vaccinations by their parents or guardians in designated registration sites.

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) gave the green light in a recent meeting.

The target for these vaccinations would be between 150 to 250 minors during the pilot. Parents or guardians may accompany their children, and may even get their own COVID vaccines if they are unvaccinated.

Afterwards, their vaccinations will be expanded to five sites which are all near hospitals, including:

• Ateneo De Iloilo (near QualiMed Hospital);
• SM City Iloilo (near Medicus Medical Center);
• Robinsons Place Jaro (near WVSU Medical Center);
• University of San Agustin (near St. Paul’s Hospital); and
• Megaworld (near The Medical City Iloilo).

While the minors have been pre-registered, they and their parents will still receive information on the vaccine and will be asked to sign respective consent forms.

Minors with co-morbidities should present a medical certificate from their pediatrician or their respective district medical doctors.

Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, which are the only ones authorized by the Food and Drug Administration so far, will be used for the minor vaccinations.

Treñas said that they are still expecting Pfizer vaccines from the national government this week.

The mayor had been pleading with the IATF-MEID starting with a letter on September 3, with a follow-up on September 9, and several more letters since October.