ABOUT 55 percent of Bacolod City’s population who are qualified to be inoculated against coronavirus disease (Covid-19) have already been vaccinated, an official of the Emergency Operations Center-Task Force (EOC-TF) said.
Dr. Chris Sorongon, deputy for medical data and analysis of EOC-TF, said that 337,304 Bacolodnons already received the first dose of Covid-19 vaccines as of Monday, October 18.
Of the number, 167,825 individuals also received their second dose of the vaccines.
He said the City Government intensified its vaccination program to inoculate all the Bacolodnons.
Sorongon said some of them were inoculated through the VAX-I mobile vaccination drive, which mobilizes five buses around the city as well as personnel for onsite visits and barangay and cluster vaccination.
The city has also put up mall-based vaccination sites at Ayala Malls Capitol Central, City Malls Goldenfield and Mandalagan, Gaisano City, Robinsons Place and SM City.
Sorongon said they also started the house-to-house vaccination in various barangays to reach those who are not vaccinated, including those who are identified as close contacts of the Covid-19 patients.
He said Bacolod City has a target population of 424,992 to be inoculated against Covid-19.
The EOC-TF aims to inoculate all the Bacolodnons before the end of 2021.
Sorongon also lamented the false belief of many residents regarding the existence of Covid-19.
"This is Covid-19 and our data shows that most of the patients have been hospitalized. The fatalities were also unvaccinated," the doctor said.
Last month, a total of 168 Bacolodnons died due to Covid-19. Of the number, 148 were unvaccinated.
Meanwhile, Sorongon said Bacolod City received an additional 3,060 vials of AstraZeneca vaccines, which were part of the city's purchased vaccines and 1,900 vials of Pfizer vaccines Monday.
He said the vaccines will be administered to persons receiving either first dose or second dose.