AMONG the cities and provinces in Davao Region, Davao City has the highest vaccination rate at 101 percent or around 1.3 million fully-vaccinated individuals.
On December 5, 2022, the Department of Health Davao Region (DOH-Davao) reported that the target population of Davao City to be vaccinated is 1,327,323 but has exceeded its expectation of total fully vaccinated individuals of 1,343,974, an excess of 16,651 individuals.
Davao Region has administered a total of 7,454,792 vaccination doses, which covers first and second doses and booster shots.
Second on the list is Davao Oriental with 376,888 fully vaccinated individuals or 89.5 percent out of 421,316 target population, while Davao del Norte is in the third spot with 636,243 individuals or 85.1 percent out of 749, 915 target population.
Davao de Oro recorded 423, 336 fully vaccinated individuals or 77.5 percent out of the 545,915 target population, Davao Occidental with 182,854 or 76.1 percent out of the 240,190 target population, and Davao del Sur with 376, 136 or 73.2 percent out of 514,171 target population.
With the current data, Davao Region recorded 88 percent vaccination rate out of the 3,796,830 total target population.
DOH said they have recorded 94.7 percent or 3,595,553 total doses administered for individuals with at least one dose, 88 percent or 3,339,431 fully vaccinated, while 671,012 individuals, or 17.7 percent who have the first booster and additional dose and 128, 750 individuals for the second booster or 3.4 percent.
Meanwhile, Maria Rosario Vergeire, DOH OIC during the launch of the Davao City leg of the Bakunahang Bayan on December 5, said they are aiming to increase the Covid-19 vaccination coverage for ages five to 11 years old.
“Sa ngayon sa buong bansa, ang ating booster shot rate ay nasa 26 percent (Nationwide, our booster shot rate is at 26 percent). Para sa mga kabataan, hanggang ngayon nasa 30 to 40 percent pa lang ang five to 11 years old (For five to 11 years old, we’re at 30 to 40 percent), we’d like to accomplish kahit hanggang mga (at least) 60 percent,” Vergeire said.
According to DOH’s data as of November 25, out of 553,200 children in the pediatric population, only 200,484 are vaccinated.
Vergeire said one of the factors affecting the vaccination of Covid-19 is due to hesitancy and complacency.
“According to surveys, sinasabi ng mga tao hindi na nila kailangan dahil hindi naman kailangan sa trabaho, eskwelahan kaya pwede na lang wala (people are saying vaccination isn’t required at offices and schools so they do not feel obliged to get vaccinated),” she said.
However, Vergeire said although Covid-19 vaccination is not mandatory, people should consider being vaccinated to protect their families against the virus.
“Umuuwi tayo sa ating pamilya na hindi tayo protektado at magkakasakit rin ang ating mga mahal sa buhay (We want to remind the public that you are not protected without the vaccination and you can endanger your loved ones because of it),” she said. KSD