A child gets vaccinated against COVID-19 in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur, during the launch of the vaccination of those aged 5 to 11 earlier this year. (Photo from the Vigan City government)
LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte – The Department of Health (DOH) is looking to hire around 500 nurses in a bid to bolster COVID-19 vaccination coverage in three Ilocos region.
DOH Ilocos regional director Paula Paz Sydiongco on Thursday said that 250 nurses will be deployed in Pangasinan while the remaining would be assigned in Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte and La Union.
The DOH had allotted at least P111 million for the hiring of the nurses under a contract of service arrangement, said Sydiongco.
Earlier, the regional DOH had also deployed “social mobilizers” in Pangasinan and La Union to help in convincing more people about the advantages of getting vaccinated against COVID-19.
Latest data from the health department showed that around 3.8 million residents have received their primary vaccine doses.
Some 1.1 million have availed of booster shots.
Sydiongco also renewed her call for residents to be vaccinated as the region had seen a rise in COVID-19 cases in the past months.
In August, the region had a daily average of 115 cases compared to the just two cases from April to June.