At least 11 more vaccination teams will be deployed to various local government units in Negros Occidental during the second phase of the National Covid-19 Vaccination Days dubbed “Bayanihan, Bakunahan” on December 15 to 17.

Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II said Tuesday the Department of Health (DOH)-Western Visayas will shoulder the pay of the additional personnel, who will also come from the province.

“Each team is composed of three nurses and one information and communications technology staff. The DOH will pay for their wages,” he added.

Diaz said the 11 teams will augment the 14 vaccination teams formed by the province to serve during the continuation of the vaccination campaign.

They will be deployed in the cities of Kabankalan, San Carlos, Bago, Himamaylan and Sipalay as well as in the towns of Cauayan, Hinigaran, Moises Padilla and Toboso.

“We give special attention to areas that lag behind in their vaccination rate,” Diaz said.

Based on its vaccination performance report as of Dec. 10, some 945,499 residents of Negros Occidental have received at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccine, or 51.8 percent of the 1.825 million target population.

Of which, 504,213 are fully vaccinated while 441,286 are due for a second dose.

Diaz said the DOH-6 has not set a target for Negros Occidental even as the province performed well during the first phase of the campaign from November 29 to December 1.

Negros Occidental administered 213,291 jabs in three days, exceeding its 150,000 commitment.

“We don’t wait for December 15. Right now, we continue to roll out and vaccinate,” Diaz said. (PNA)