Bontoc, Mountain Province – Elective and health officials of this capital town are one in reiterating their appeal to the eligible population who are not vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccines to avail of the same.
During the 4th Quarter Municipal Peace and Order Council (MPOC) meeting on November 17, 2021, in Barangay Dalican, Bontoc, Mountain Province, Municipal Health Officer Dr. Diga Kay Gomez announced that the municipality is still far from achieving “herd immunity”.
Per data from the Municipal Health Office (MHO), Bontoc has an actual population of 25,516. Of the number, 70% or 17,861 individuals of the actual population must be vaccinated to achieve “herd immunity”. However, a total of 14, 452 individuals have been vaccinated as of November 16, 2021. The said number has received either the complete doses or those who received their first doses.
The four central barangays recorded the highest number of vaccinated individuals since the municipality catered to those from other municipalities of Mountain Province and neighboring provinces.
Barangay Caluttit has vaccinated 2,203 individuals; Barangay Poblacion is 2,978; Barangay Bontoc Ili is 3,203 and Barangay Samoki is 2,090 individuals.
For the other barangays, 298 were inoculated in Barangay Alab Oriente, Alab Proper is 343, Balili is 182, Bayyo is 110, Caneo is 133, Dalican is 433, Gonogon is 288, Guina-ang is 552, Mainit is 237, Maligcong is 329, Talubin is 558 and Tocucan is 515.
Accordingly, fear of the adverse effects and widespread misinformation about COVID-19 and the vaccines especially from the social media platforms are the reasons that caused reluctance to the eligible population to be vaccinated. The MHO clarified that they did not receive any adverse effects from those who were vaccinated.
The COVID-19 vaccination of minors is a welcome development for parents, students, and teachers, as this could be a possible game-changer for high school-age students who have had to adapt to the “new normal education” such as online and modular classes. **Alpine L. Killa, Bontoc LGU
