Ilocos region eyes 700,000 residents for 3-day national vaccination drive vs COVID-19

Residents of Solsona town in Ilocos Norte wait for their turn to be vaccinated against COVID-19 on the first day of the national vaccination drive Monday. (Photo courtesy of Alfonso de Los Reyes)

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte—A Department of Health (DOH) official in the Ilocos Region said they expected to inoculate at least 700,000 residents during the three-day national COVID-19 vaccination drive starting Monday, Nov. 29.

“If we reach 700,000 during the three days, we will even surpass our target of 70 percent for the first dose coverage among residents in the region,” said Dr. Rheuel Bobis, COVID-19 focal person of DOH in Ilocos, during a press briefing Sunday.

To achieve the target, vaccination sites in the region should inoculate at least 8,000 to 9,000 residents in the next three days, said Bobis.

A total of 408 vaccination sites across the region had been set up for the national vaccination. The sites will be open at least eight hours a day.

“We expanded the vaccination sites and made it more accessible to the public. We expanded the vaccination teams as well,” said John Paul Aquino, regional DOH immunization program manager.

Aquino said at least 667 individuals volunteered as vaccinators, while 727 offered their help as encoders.

Bobis said they encourage the eligible public to get vaccinated and be accommodated as “walk-in.”

The regional DOH said it would continue to address issues among residents who are picky with vaccine brands through a massive information drive.

lzb