Alert level 2 still up in 32 Quezon towns due to low vaccination rate
FILE PHOTO: A syringe is filled with a dose of Pfizer’s coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine at a pop-up community vaccination center at the Gateway World Christian Center in Valley Stream, New York, U.S., February 23, 2021. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
LUCENA CITY — Despite the steady drop in the number of active COVID-19 cases in Quezon, most parts of the province remained under alert level 2, owing to the prevailing hesitancy among residents in getting vaccinated against the viral disease.
“We only have an average of 61-66 percent fully vaccinated residents in towns that will still remain under alert level 2 until the end of the month,” Gov. Danilo Suarez told the Inquirer in a phone interview on Friday.
Suarez said most residents who received their first dose failed to return for their second dose.
“It was probably fear. Maybe they experienced bad side effects on their first dose,” Suarez said.
On Friday, local and national health authorities held a consultative meeting in a hotel here to intensify the COVID-19 vaccination rollout in the province.
The governor said he would request for a supply of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine to address the situation.
Lower status
“I will also task local health authorities to conduct extra efforts to educate the residents on the importance of full vaccination and booster shot,” Suarez said.
On Thursday, the national Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) renewed the alert level 1 status of Lucena City, the capital of the province until April 15; and placed Tayabas City and the towns Lucban, Mauban, Pagbilao, Plaridel, Polillo, Quezon and Sampaloc under the same alert level, the most lenient in a five-tier alert status. The rest of the 32 towns in the province will remain under alert level 2 during the same period.
According to IATF guidelines, the status of provinces, cities, and municipalities can be downgraded to alert level 1 once they fully vaccinate 70 percent of their population and reach the required vaccination coverage for senior citizens.
Quezon logged only 88 new active infections last month. In February, the new cases totaled 342 compared to 696 in January.
On Thursday, active COVID-19 cases in Quezon rose to seven from five on Monday. On Jan. 23, the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) recorded 1,805 active cases. At least 37 of the 41 municipalities in the province reported zero COVID-19 patients.
Suarez urged unvaccinated residents to get their jabs for their safety and the protection of the community and asked the public to remain vigilant in the battle against COVID-19.
“Let us all maintain discipline by observing all safety protocols to prevent the resurgence of new cases,” he said.
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