CEBU CITY – As the government stepped up its vaccination drive through the “Pinaslakas” program, the Department of Health-Central Visayas (DOH-Region 7) announced Monday, August 15, that 3,635,038 individuals in the area aged five and above have yet to to have their second and booster doses.

“It’s still a long way to go to reach the targets for our senior citizens and the first booster shots,” Dr. Jaime Bernadas, DOH-Region 7 director, said in a press statement.

Bernadas said that normal activities can only fully resume “if our vulnerable group has achieved 90 percent vaccination coverage and the rest of the adult population are protected against variants provided by booster shots.”

The DOH has revised its vaccination guidelines after President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. ordered the agency to intensify the government’s inoculation campaign.

DOH regional offices have been given until October 8 to inoculate 90 percent of senior citizens and ensure that 50 percent of the general population, aged 18 to 59, have already received at least their first booster shot.

Instead of the previous sub-priority groups, the Health department will determine their targets according to age groups.

In Region 7, 2,780,691 individuals aged 18- to 59-years-old have yet to receive their first booster dose. The DOH-Region 7 added that 270,679 senior citizens have yet to receive their second dose.

“We need to double our efforts in ensuring that the opening of face-to-face classes for elementary level are safe and students are given added layer of protection afforded by the COVID-19 vaccines,” Bernadas said.

Of the 677,108 senior citizens in Central Visayas, 406,429 are already fully vaccinated for a vaccination rate of 60.02 percent.

In the five to 11 age group, 569,639 children have yet to get their second dose. The vaccination rate for minors aged 12 to 17 is already at 97.85 percent.