The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has vaccinated 51.05 percent of its target population against Covid-19.

This, after the BARMM Ministry of Health (MOH) held a special vaccination day for the region in Cotabato City on Thursday.

BARMM is among the regions with a low Covid-19 vaccination turnout and this is attributed to the residents’ reluctance to get the shot.

Latest BARMM vaccination coverage data showed 1,584,124 individuals in the region are fully vaccinated and 163,308 or 5.26 percent of the target population have received their first booster dose.

Tokens and food packs were also given to those vaccinated as part of BARMM’s incentivization programs.

Department of Health (DOH) officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire attended the special vaccination day and assured the region’s health officials of her support for their inoculation drive and other health programs.

“Through this kind of effort, we give the gift of safety and security to our loved ones – especially to our dear senior citizens, children, and those who are immunocompromised,” she said. “Let us all be in one spirit for the protection of the Filipino nation, so that we can finally live safe and comforting lives.”

To bring protection closer to its people, the BARMM government and the MOH installed Covid-19 vaccination and routine immunization hubs in a One Stop Shop Health Services Center.

The center also provides services similar to those of Animal Bite Treatment Centers.

As of July 21, about 71,439,759 or 91.47 percent of the target population of 78 million nationwide are fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

Some 15,797,385 individuals or 20.23 percent already received their first booster dose while 1,146,735 or 1.47 percent got their second booster shot. (PNA)