The City Government of Davao, through the Inter-agency Task Force on COVID-19, targets 70 percent of the city’s 1.8 million individuals for vaccination to achieve herd immunity against coronavirus disease.
Herd immunity, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) happens when a population is immune either through vaccination or immunity developed from the previous infection.
During the virtual massive education information on COVID-19 and benefits of vaccination organized by the City Health Office (CHO), Dr. Marjorie Culas, Davao City assistant health officer, said that they are aiming to inoculate at least 70 percent of the total population to combat coronavirus infection.
“At least 70 percent man lang ang makuha natin, that is already enough to achieve yung herd immunity,” Culas said during a virtual conference.
However, she admitted that vaccination is not only the solution or to prevent the disease. She also emphasized the importance of proper nutrition.
“Ang ating disease protection, prevention is not only the vaccination. We have to eat healthy food, we have to clean our environment, we have to avoid vices, we have to have a healthy lifestyle,” Culas said.
To achieve the full efficacy of the immunization process, the city government has allocated at least two doses of the coronavirus vaccine per person.
“We will allocate two doses for each person once we have started with the first dose kasi hindi pwede nga pagbalik niya baka naubos na yung vaccine. Hindi natin maa-achieve yung full protection pag walang second dose,” Culas explained.
The city government targets to list up around 1.2 million Davaoeños for the coronavirus vaccination to achieve herd immunity.
Authorities also noted the need to help the public overcome fears of getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Thus, intensifying the massive educational campaign on the vaccination process and its benefits.
The city government of Davao will start a local augmentation of the COVID-19 immunization program sometime in the second or third quarter of this year.
(City Information Office | Michael Manguhig, RPN DXKT Davao OIC)