THE Ministry of Health in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MOH-Barmm) announced Thursday, April 22, that 65 percent of its priority recipients already received their first dose of vaccine against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

Dr. Bashary Latiph, newly installed MOH minister, said that Barmm has vaccinated 9,588 out of 14,750 persons from its A1 priority group as of Tuesday, April 20.

The A1 priority group includes workers in frontline health services from hospitals, isolation and quarantine facilities, and government-owned primary care-based facilities.

Latiph said that Sulu recorded the highest vaccination coverage of about 93 percent of its total number of healthcare workers, or 2,579 out of 2,777 personnel.

Sulu is followed by Lanao del Sur at 72 percent, Maguindanao at 64 percent, Tawi-Tawi at 51 percent, and Basilan at 39 percent.

Vaccination in Barmm started in the first week of March for the provinces of Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur.

A week after, vaccination also commenced in the island provinces of Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, while frontline workers in Basilan received their vaccine jabs starting March 15. (SunStar Zamboanga)