By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Provincial Health Office (PHO) in Negros Occidental has expressed renewed optimism that the province will be able to fully inoculate 70 percent of the target population against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by the end of this month.

Based on the latest data released by the PHO, the province has already hit 59.40 percent fully vaccinated individuals or roughly 1,084,254 individuals.

Another 176,489 have already received their first dose, while around 564,628 have not yet been vaccinated.

La Carlota City is currently on top of the list with 89 percent of their target population already fully vaccinated, followed by Pulupandan town with 79.67 percent, Cadiz City with 79.27 percent, and the town of Murcia with 77.23 percent.

Meanwhile, the cities of Sagay and Victorias, as well as the towns of E.B. Magalona and San Enrique have already hit above 70 percent of their target.

Previously, there were doubts that the province would be able to hit the February deadline after the province’s vaccination program slowed down dramatically following the onslaught of super typhoon “Odette” in December of last year.

However, officials from the provincial and local government units immediately kicked into high gear after receiving direct orders from President Rodrigo Duterte to step up vaccination efforts, especially in the areas hard hit by the typhoon./DGB, WDJ