COVID-19 vaccine drive reaches remote Zambales island

Healthcare workers visit the island community of Magalawa in Palauig town, Zambales province Dec. 1 as part of the three-day national vaccination campaign. (Photo courtesy of Zambales provincial health office)

PALAUIG, Zambales––On the last day of the national vaccination rollout on Wednesday, Dec. 1, healthcare workers inoculated residents of a remote island here as the province inches closer to herd immunity.

Dr. Noel Bueno, provincial health director, said they vaccinated 143 residents of Magalawa Island.

“We will return to the island on Dec. 29 to give their complete shot,” Bueno told the Inquirer.

The island, located six kilometers northwest of the town center, has a population of 370. It takes about a 15-minute boat ride from a port in Barangay Luan to reach the area.

Bueno said at least 27,249 more residents in the province were vaccinated on Wednesday. It raised to 253,801 the total number of residents in Zambales who have been vaccinated against the viral disease. At least 139,148 of them were vaccinated fully.

The province needs to vaccinate 70 percent or 454,730 of its 649,615 population to achieve herd immunity.

Since the pandemic broke out, the province has recorded 9,840 COVID-19 cases. At least 34 of these remained active, 9,589 had recovered and 601 had died.

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