Ilocos Norte province leads bivalent Covid vaccine immunization
By Glen S Ramos
A total of 2,127 individuals from the A1 (frontline workers in health facilities both national and local, private and public, health professionals and non-professionals including students, nursing aides, janitors, barangay health workers, etc.) and A2 (senior citizens 60 years old and above) priority groups received their Covid-19 Bivalent vaccination in Ilocos Norte making them the leading province in vaccination accomplishment with 59.06% utilization rate.
The province has an allocation of 3,630 doses and with only 1,486 remaining doses left for administration based on the July 17, 2023 verified submissions in quickcount from rural health units, hospitals and other vaccination facilities.
Department of Health (DOH) – Ilocos Regional Director Paula Paz M. Sydiongco encouraged all individuals belonging to the A1 and A2 priority groups to go to vaccination centers and avail of the third booster shot to strengthen their immune system from the Covid virus.
“Because of the limited doses we have this time, I strongly advise everyone na magpabakuna na upang hindi kayo maubusan. First come first serve basis po ito at napakaimportante na mabigyan po ng Covid bivalent vaccine po ang ating mga elderly para po sa kanilang kalusugan laban sa covid virus,” she stated.
Sydiongco added that a total of 7,688 doses have been administered out of the 23,460 doses allocated in Region 1 with a 33.31% utilization rate. There are a total of 15,645 remaining doses for administration.
Ilocos Sur is the second leading province with a total of 1,490 individuals vaccinated from an allocation of 3,636 doses and a utilization rate of 41.01% followed by Dagupan City with 1,149 from an allocation of 3,396 and a 35.63% utilization rate.
La Union province vaccinated a total of 1,345 vaccinated with an allocation of 4,488 doses with 30.12% utilization rate and Pangasinan with a total of 1,577 vaccinated with an allocation of 8,310 doses and 19.47% utilization rate.
Ilocos region started its Covid-19 Bivalent Immunization Activity on selected health facilities on June 13, 2023, inoculating frontliners in healthcare and senior citizens, followed by the Local Government Units’ health centers regionwide.
