TAWI-TAWI – A total of 9,784 residents of this province received their vaccines against COVID-19 during the Special Vaccinations Days (SVD) held here by the Ministry of Health (MOH) on May 18-20.
The vaccination turnout was 54.36% of the 18,000 unvaccinated individuals targeted by the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) in the municipalities of Bongao, Panglima Sugala, Languyan, Sitangkai, Tandubas, Simunul, and Turtle Island.
MOH Assistant Secretary Abdulhalik Kasim expressed his gratitude towards the residents of Tawi-Tawi for participating in the SVD – the BARMM government’s initiative to address the low vaccination rate in the region.
“Ang Tawi-Tawi talaga usually ang nangunguna sa lahat ng provinces sa BARMM para makamit ang ating 70% herd immunity… Nakita natin na talagang nagdagsaan ang ating mga kababayan para magpabakuna,” Kasim said.
Meanwhile, Bongao Municipal Health Officer Muhjali Theodore Aliaza encouraged the constituents to continuously support the vaccination drives against COVID-19 in the region to achieve the herd immunity.
“Sa buong Bangsamoro, mas mainam na ituloy natin ang laban kasi alam natin na tuloy-tuloy ito […] magpalakas lang tayo ng loob at unang-una isipin natin na dapat magkaisa sa mithiin, iisang gagawin, at isang Bangsamoro,” he said.
The Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE), Philippine National Police (PNP), Local Government Units (LGU), Barangay Health Workers and officials, and non-government organizations also supported the implementation of the SVD in Tawi-Tawi. (Myrna S. Tepadan/BIO)
