More residents in Cebu City’s upland villages now willing to get COVID-19 jab

CEBU CITY—Unlike in previous weeks, more residents in this city’s mountain villages have decided to get a COVID-19 vaccine.

Data from the Management Information and Computer Services show that at least 45,283 individuals from the upland barangays have registered for the city’s vaccination program.

Of Cebu City’s 80 barangays, 22 are located in the mountains.

Dr. Jeffrey Ibones, officer-in-charge of the Cebu City Health Department, believed the rise in the number of people who want to be inoculated was due to the city’s decision to bring the vaccination rollout closer to those living in the mountains.

He also cited the realization of many residents that the vaccines would not harm them.

“Now they understand that the vaccines will do them more good than harm,” Ibones said in an interview.

The City’s Vaccine Advisory Board opened on June 18 a vaccination site for residents of the mountain barangays at the Don Bosco Technical College (DBTC) in Barangay Punta Princesa.

The next day, they held a vaccination at Barangay Bonbon before proceeding to Barangays Taptap and Cambinocot.

Ibones said the city inoculated 332 individuals at DBTC, 362 in Bonbon, 481 in Taptap, and 460 in Cambinocot.

He hoped more people in Cebu City would submit themselves for vaccination to achieve herd immunity.

Ibones said the city could vaccinate over 4,000 individuals as long as vaccines are available.

Cebu City has five vaccination sites, namely Robinsons Galleria, University of Cebu Banilad, and its UC Senior High School Private Campus, SM Seaside City, and the New Normal Oasis for Adaptation and a Home Complex.

As of July 3, a total of 106,203 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been delivered to the different vaccination sites in the city.

Last week, the Department of Health in Central Visayas had delivered 14,920 COVID-19 vaccine doses to Cebu City.

“However, our supply of vaccines may only be until Tuesday, July 6,” Ibones said.

LZB