The Negros Occidental provincial government gained the support of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in its continued efforts to increase coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccination among Negrenses.

Data from the Department of Health-Western Visayas (DOH-6) showed that vaccination coverage among those aged 5 to 11 and above 60 has remained low. This despite the number of fully vaccinated individuals among the 12 to 17 and 18 to 59 age groups have reached beyond target.

Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, provincial health officer, Thursday said both the UNICEF and the USAID have been deploying social mobilizers in localities with low vaccination rates.

“There are still many unvaccinated individuals but more so, we are lagging behind in our booster doses, (particularly) the second boosters. Our development partners are now helping us for demand generation,” Tumimbang said.

Based on the DOH-6 data, some 117,803 children or 46.33 percent in the 5 to 11 age group have been fully vaccinated.

Among the 12 to 17 age group, a total of 240,881 minors, or 114.32 percent have completed the primary doses, but only 6,889 or 3.27 percent have availed of booster shots.

In the 18 to 59 adult population, 948,497 or 82.93 percent have been fully vaccinated, and those who got the first booster were 141,548 individuals or 12.38 percent while only 15,976 persons or 1.40 percent have been given the second booster.

For those 60 and above or senior citizens, 139,568 or 60.90 percent have been fully vaccinated, but only 25,853 or 11.28 percent have been given booster shots while a mere 1.49 percent or 4,030 individuals got the second booster.

Tumimbang said the UNICEF, with its partner non-government organization, Relief International, have assigned social mobilizers to areas in the cities of Sipalay and Kabankalan and the municipality of Cauayan in the south and in San Carlos City in the north.

He added that USAID’s ReachHealth project has sent similar personnel in the towns of Toboso and Calatrava, also in the north.

“They are the ones creating demand (for vaccines). They convince people to get vaccinated. They focus more on those groups that are still hesitant. Those that their stand can still be reversed. They are giving us good results even just gradually,” Tumimbang said.

He also said that UNICEF has expressed willingness to continue their social mobilization efforts in Negros Occidental up to June next year. (PNA)