Administration of Covid-19 vax 1st dose slows down in 8 Metro Cebu LGUs

Administration of Covid-19 vax 1st dose slows down in 8 Metro Cebu LGUs. (File photo)
Administration of Covid-19 vax 1st dose slows down in 8 Metro Cebu LGUs. (File photo)

THE Visayas Vaccination Operations Center (VVOC) said the inoculation for the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine in eight local government units (LGUs) in Metro Cebu slowed down from Sept. 13 to 18, 2021.

These LGUs are the highly urbanized cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu; component cities of Talisay and Naga; and the municipalities of Minglanilla, Consolacion and Cordova.



The Sept. 13-18 data from the VVOC show that the eight LGUs only vaccinated a combined 25,891 individuals out of their combined 141,750 weekly target, achieving only 18 percent of the target, according to VVOC spokesperson Dr. Mary Jean Loreche.

The possible reason for the slow vaccination turnout in the six-day timeframe was that only a few people went to the vaccination sites, Loreche said.

The LGUs, said Loreche, have vaccine supplies and the vaccination sites are up and running, but only a few people were willing to get their jabs because of vaccine hesitancy, which could be the result of brand preference and fear.

Loreche said all vaccines, regardless of the brand, administered in vaccination sites are effective and safe.

She hopes that the public would cast aside their fear in getting their vaccine jabs.

Loreche said misinformation about Covid-19 vaccine that it could kill vaccinated people contributes to fear and discourages them from getting their jabs.

The doctor clarified that all the reported adverse effects that lead to death have no direct link to vaccination. Loreche said breakthrough infection of Covid-19 could happen to anyone after getting a single dose of the vaccine or completing the second dose; however she cited the Centers for Disease Control, which reported that breakthrough infections are very low and they are not the patients who mostly occupy hospitals’ intensive care units.

Second dose

Loreche said she noticed that the number of administered second doses is catching up with the number of the first doses administered. Her observation is based on the overall Cebu vaccination statistics.

“Our second dose is increasing, and this is good because it means that those that were given the first doses are conscious and religiously coming back for their second doses,” said Loreche.

However, the VVOC also reported that the vaccination for the second dose in Metro Cebu has not met its weekly target and only jabbed 85.6 percent from Sept. 13 to 18.

Based on the report of the VVOC, Metro Cebu’s eight LGUs’ combined target for the administration of second doses from Sept 13 to 18 was 64,703, but they only administered a combined 55,413 jabs.

Loreche urged individuals who have received their first dose to come back for their second dose.

She said the public should not waste the effectiveness of the vaccine by just getting only one dose. (KFD)

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