AFTER two Christmases of being prohibited from caroling, residents wanting to engage in this yuletide activity should at least get their primary vaccine shots before doing so, the City Health Office (CHO) said today.
“It’s not that we will prohibit them from caroling, but we have to make sure that for those aged five to 11 years old they should at least secure their primary two vaccine doses. For those aged 11 to 17 years old, if they at least secured their first booster shot, then much better. For adults 18 years old and older, they should complete their boosters,” CHO epidemiologist Dr. Teodulfo Joselito Retuya Jr said.
Dr. Retuya said this during Monday morning’s Covid-19 response press briefing as CHO vaccination data showed that Cagayan de Oro City secured a 43.85 percent first booster dose coverage as of Nov. 27.
Dr. Ina Grace Chiu, the CHO immunization program medical coordinator, said the city achieved 81.75 percent primary two-dose coverage for seniors including an additional 301 seniors also as of Nov. 27.
For those aged five to 11 years old, about 36,841 out of the targeted 71,432 population were fully vaccinated, or 51.58 percent.
“We achieved a 63.44 percent first dose coverage (of the same five to 11 years old age group) and we’re still looking for about 8,786 that are listed to receive their second dose. Since Mayor Rolando ‘Klarex’ Uy sat in office last June, we vaccinated 85,679 Kagay-anons so far,” Dr. Chiu said.
Of the targeted 384,822 for first booster coverage, Dr. Chiu said the city administered first booster doses to 175,234 Kagay-anons as of Nov. 27.
“So let’s look at the vaccination data…based on this data, (it’s imperative that we ensure) that they secured their primary two vaccine doses,” Dr. Retuya said. Both Dr. Retuya and Dr. Chiu also announced the Bakunahan Bayan scheduled on Dec. 5 to Dec. 7.
The Bakunahang Bayan II or PinasLakas Special Covid-19 Vaccination Days will be held nationwide and will cover first booster doses, especially for those aged five to 11 years old.
“If we can increase our first booster dose coverage during those days that would be an assurance for us that maybe, we can allow more children to go caroling this Christmas,” Dr. Retuya said.
In the meantime, those experiencing fever, cough, cold and other symptoms associated with Covid-19 should be isolated and undergo examination rather than go caroling.
“Singing in public also exposes people to the virus so we should also still observe minimum public health standards like wearing face masks and physical distancing,” Dr. Retuya said. (Stephen Capillas of City Information Office)
