The Department of Health Central Luzon Center for Health Development (DOH CLCHD) will conduct its regionwide coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccination every month in line with the “PinasLakas” campaign.

The vaccination drive aims to administer doses to 90 percent of senior citizens to complete their first and second doses and provide booster shots to 50 percent of the 12 years old and above population during the first 100 days of the Marcos administration.

DOH CLCHD Director Corazon Flores said Thursday the move is one way of curbing the rising cases of Covid-19 in the region.

“Tayo po sa rehiyon, ang strategy na gagawin natin is every first Thursday or every first Friday of the month. Magkakaroon tayo ng regional vaccination days para mahikayat ang nasa communities na magpabakuna (Here in our region, our strategy is every first Thursday or every first Friday of the month. We will have our regional vaccination days to encourage people in the communities to get vaccinated),” Flores said in a regional news report.

She cited the need for the public to get booster shots to increase their protection against Covid-19.

“Kinakailangan para maproteksyunan ang publiko ay mabigyan ulit sya ng bakuna. Bumaba ang proteksyon ng katawan ng tao laban sa Covid, kaya napakahalaga na mabakunahan (To protect the public, they must be given vaccination again. Protection against Covid-19 wanes, that is why it is important to get vaccinated again),” Flores said, citing the low rate of booster shot vaccination in the region.

Based on the report of the DOH CLCHD, as of July 25, the total number of people who were administered booster shots stood at 2,269,617, which is only a quarter of their target to boost 70 percent of the population.

On the other hand, 9,016,177 individuals have received the first vaccine dose while 8,569,503 have received the second dose.

Meanwhile, the region has logged 3,174 active Covid-19 cases. (PNA)