THE Provincial Health Office (PHO) in Negros Occidental reported that all local government units (LGUs) need to fully vaccinate their target population in order for the province to achieve actual herd immunity.
Vaccination data released by PHO head Dr. Ernel Tumimbang showed that as of January, 2022, the LGUs of Murcia and La Carlota are the closest to achieving actual herd immunity.
Murcia now has 90.78-percent vaccination accomplishment, while La Carlota City has 89.53 percent.
Overall, the province has already fully vaccinated 873,223 individuals or 47.84 percent of the target 1,825,370 Negrenses who are eligible for inoculation.
At least 1,135,731 individuals, meanwhile, have already received at least one dose of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) vaccine or 62.22 percent of the target population.
The figure is two-percent higher compared to data released on January 2.
In terms of vaccination trend, the top five performing LGUs are La Carlota City with 114.75 percent, Murcia with 99.52 percent, Cadiz City with 78.74 percent, Sagay City with 77.28 percent, and Talisay with 76.56 percent.
The PHO has also identified five LGUs that have achieved below 50 percent of their target for vaccination for this week.
They are the towns of Calatrava (37.97 percent), Toboso (41.86 percent), Cauayan (47.20 percent), La Castellana (46.27 percent), and San Carlos City (45.91 percent).
Tumimbang said the slow vaccination rollout in some areas were attributed to recipients either becoming choosy of the vaccine brand they want to take, or those who are still refusing to get vaccinated due to their religious beliefs.
"Some people would not go for Sinovac, they would rather take other vaccines such as Pfizer, Moderna or AstraZeneca," he said.
Tumimbang also noted the problems with indigenous people in the province as they are sometimes forced to seek help from tribal chieftains to convince their members to get vaccinated.
Negros Occidental is targeting to achieve herd immunity by February 2022, but because of the damages brought about by Typhoon Odette, it is unlikely that the province would be able to hit the target.