By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Mayor Richard Jaojoco of Negros Occidental’s Toboso town vowed that they will eventually catch up with the ongoing vaccination program as more COVID-19 vaccines arrive in the country.

Jaojoco made the statement after a report from the Provincial Health Office showed that the municipality has only vaccinated 2,807 or a mere nine percent of its target population.

The mayor said they have a problem with acceptance from residents especially with the CoronaVac vaccine which is made by Chinese biotech company Sinovac.

“This may be the cause of the low performance of Toboso in our vaccination program,” he pointed out.

The municipal government has even resorted to creative ways to convince residents to have themselves vaccinated, he added.

Jaojoco said they are offering five kilos of rice per person and P2,500 per teacher who will go to the school and get vaccinated.

He also said that they are planning to conduct a house-to-house vaccination since the vaccination rollout of the provincial government is a lot faster now.

“Let us be responsible! Love yourself and your family! Have yourself vaccinated,” Jaojoco added.

As of October 19, 2021, provincial administrator, Atty. Rayfrando Diaz, reported that La Carlota City topped among local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental with the highest number of vaccinees at 20,016 or 42 percent, with the city announcing it targets to reach 50 percent herd immunity by the end of October.

The province, meanwhile, has already vaccinated 377,318 residents or 21 percent.

Diaz said Negros Occidental targets to vaccinate 1,825,370 of the total population of 2,607,671.

“The remaining 1,448,052 or 79 percent still need to be vaccinated,” he said./DGB, WDJ