CEBU CITY — The Department of Health-Central Visayas (DOH 7) is targeting to vaccinate close to half a million individuals in the third installment of the national vaccination dubbed as "Bayanihan Bakunahan" slated on February 10-11.
Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, chief pathologist of DOH-7, said the agency is looking to vaccinate 210,155 individuals for first dose and another 257,421 for booster shots.
The figures are based on the number of individuals who registered for the region's national vaccination days.
Loreche said there are still more than two million individuals in Central Visayas who remain unvaccinated.
The unvaccinated individuals are part of the population that the DOH 7 is looking to vaccinate to achieve herd immunity in the region.
Loreche added that the region has already vaccinated 3,144,730 individuals.
In Cebu, Loreche said local authorities are already prepared for the vaccination of children aged five to 11.
"Our local government units are just awaiting for the arrival of vaccines. The vaccination will be on February 15," Loreche said.
Loreche said the DOH 7 is looking to replicate what the National Capitol Region did in its vaccination drive for minors in which the vaccination sites were decorated with balloons, chocolates were distributed while there were also mascots.