THE Iloilo Provincial Government is rolling out its coronavirus disease (Covid-19) inoculation program to island barangays to address low vaccination turnout among remote villages.
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Maria Socorro Quiñon said that from November 15 to 21, they will go to the island barangays of Carles to vaccinate at least 12,500 residents.
The municipality of Carles ranked second among the local government units with the lowest immunization rates, having inoculated only 28 percent of its population.
Of the 33 barangays in Carles, 18 are located in the islands. Fifty-five percent (55 percent) of the 50,995 eligible population are island residents.
The vaccination rollout among island villages is part of the Bulig Bakuna sa Barangay Program of the Provincial Government mthat aims to make the Covid-19 vaccines more accessible to residents.
Other towns with the lowest vaccination turnout are Estancia, San Enrique, Tigbauan, Maasin, Ajuy, San Rafael, Calinog, San Dionisio, and Igbaras.
As of November 7, a total of 394,937 (27 percent) individuals have been fully vaccinated while 560,896 (39 percent) received their first Covid-19 jab.
The province targets to inoculate 1,448,757 individuals to reach herd immunity.
It has started hiring medical officers to augment its vaccination teams and ramp up its vaccination efforts.
It has also kicked off the vaccination of minors aged 12 to 17 years. (PR)