Bohol needs 1.9M COVID-19 

vax doses for herd immunity

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Oct. 14 (PIA) -- Targeting to vaccinate 70% of the local population entails getting more than 976,000 vaccines for Bohol, or twice of the said doses.

With Bohol population pegged at 1,394329 in the last census, 70% of the local population should be about 976,030.

But with two shots needed for a person to attain full protection against COVID-19, Bohol still needs 1.9 million doses.

In its Oct. 8 report, Bohol Provincial Health Office, the base of operations of the Provincial Vaccine Operation Center of the Bohol Inter Agency Task Force (BIATF) on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, shared that since March 6 when the first batch of vaccines arrived, Bohol has since received 467,892 doses of the COVID-19 vaccines.

This translates to 1,484,168 vaccine doses short of the jabs needed for Bohol to achieve herd immunity.

Currently, Bohol has fully vaccinated 182,612 Boholanos since March 6, or 13.09% in its vaccination goal.

Another 180,757 have been given the first doses, according to the BIATF.

Of the 467,892 vaccine jabs received, 363,187 have been administered, said the PHO in its Sept. 30 report.

This leaves Bohol with a balance in stock of 104,705.

If the balance could be dispensed in the next weeks, this should give to Boholanos some 33.55% of the total population.

Vaccinating 30% of the general population in an area like Bohol where the sea forms a natural barrier deterring people from crossing across boundaries, flattening the curve early can have better results, according to health professionals and epidemiologists studying the COVID-19 pandemic.

With a 30% vaccination accomplishment, communities can start to see the steadying of the new cases, consequent hospitalizations, and possible deaths.

The government, owing to the scarcity of the vaccines, decided to ask local government units to prepare priority lists to ensure the vaccines go first to those who need it the most.

The priority list is based on those who are normally exposed to the disease such as medical and health frontliners, senior citizens, those with comorbidities, and then those who are in essential services to allow the economy to operate again.

After the 30% goal, the next option is to inoculate 50% of the general population or 697,154 Boholanos. (RAHC/PIA7 Bohol)