By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
Encouraged by the report that it topped the recent COVID-19 Vaccination Performance report released by the Negros Occidental Provincial Health Office, the La Carlota City government announced yesterday that it aims to attain 50 percent herd immunity by the end of this month.
In a social media post of Mayor Rex Jalando-on, he said the goal translates to an additional of 3,547 La Carlota residents showing up at vaccination sites or a total of 23,563 vaccinated residents by October 31.
In a report released by the provincial government on Wednesday, La Carlota City led other cities and municipalities of Negros Occidental in terms of the number of vaccinees.
With a total target of 47,125 vaccinees, La Carlota City was able to inoculate 20,016 individuals or 42 percent of the city’s target.
The report is a significant morale booster to the city government and the COVID-19 vaccination team after suffering many setbacks, low turnouts and attacks from anti-vaxxers in the past.
Jalando-on said he is grateful for the cooperation of the city’s residents and the efforts of the city vaccination team to reach as many people and cover as many areas in the city-wide vaccination campaign.
The mayor and other private physicians, including September 2021 Physician Licensure Examination topnotcher Dr. Inez Benedicto, were spotted at the vaccination site over the weekend.
They temporarily substituted for fellow doctors who were given a day-off before vaccination drive went to full gear this week./WDJ