DOH-9 alarmed over 60% vax rate among seniors

 

An official of the Department of Health in the Zamboanga Peninsula (DOH-9) is alarmed over the 60 percent vaccination of senior citizens in the region, saying the figure should be higher considering they are a vulnerable population.

Dr. Lenny Joy Johnson-Rivera, DOH-9 assistant director, said Wednesday at least 196,891 senior citizens in the region are fully vaccinated, comprising 60 percent of the target for the age group.

Rivera said DOH-9 has ramped up its vaccination program through the house-to-house inoculation with focus on the senior citizens, who are vulnerable to coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) infection.

“We are alarmed that the full vaccination of senior citizens, who are a vulnerable population since they can easily get infected with any kind of sickness, have not yet reached 70 percent,” Rivera said during the “Kapihan sa Zamboanga.”

She underscored the importance of making it easier for senior citizens to avail of the vaccines, noting that some of them might not be able to go out of the house.

Overall, Rivera said the 2,072,396 fully vaccinated individuals in the region represent 66.9 percent of the target population.

She also encouraged residents to get the booster shot as only 257,933 of the total fully vaccinated individuals from different priority groups, including children, have received their booster dose.

The DOH-19 official said the region posted 95.7 percent recovery or 57,572 individuals who recovered from Covid-19 since the start of the health pandemic in March 2020.

Rivera said the region currently has 59 active cases, and 2,485 deaths since March 2020.