If another Covid-19 surge hits the country, it would be the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and Soccsksargen (Region 12) that could suffer the most.
This was the bold prediction of vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr., citing the “very low” vaccination rate in BARMM and Soccsksargen
“Sa lahat po ng region, ang BARMM at saka ‘yung Region 12 po ang napakababa. Wala pa po talaga sa 50 percent, in fact, 20 percent pa lang po ang kanilang fully vaccinated (Among all the regions, the BARMM and Region 12 had the least vaccination rate. It has yet to reach 50 percent, in fact, only 20 percent were fully vaccinated in those areas),” Galvez said at the Talk to the People of President Duterte aired on Monday night, April 11.
“So nakakabahala po kasi ganoon po ang nangyayari sa Hong Kong na ‘yung kanilang mga tinatawag na senior citizens ay less than 30 percent po ang bakunado. So kapag nagkaroon ng surge, mahihirapan po ang BARMM kung just in case sa kanila po tumama ‘yung tinatawag nating pandemic (So it is really alarming because that’s what happened in Hong Kong where less than 30 percent of their senior citizen population are fully vaccinated. If a surge happens, BARMM will suffer in case the pandemic hits them),” he added.
Among the 17 regions, BARMM had the lowest vaccination rate since only 960,180 individuals out of their 3,516,278 target population have been fully vaccinated. This translates to a vaccination rate of 27.31 percent.
Meanwhile, Soccsksargen fully vaccinated 2,413,472 individuals out of their target population of 4,072,486 for a vaccination turnout of 59.26 percent.
Eight regions have fully vaccinated at least 64 to 69 percent of their target population including Regions 10, 11, Caraga, 9, 8, 5, Mimaropa, and 7.
Meanwhile, seven regions have fully inoculated at least 70 percent of their target population namely National Capital Region (NCR), Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Regions 1, 2, 3, Calabarzon, and 6.
In total, the country has fully vaccinated 66,652,616 or 74 percent of the target population. Meanwhile, 12,477,480 individuals have received their booster shots for a turnout of 17.29 percent.