Sorsogon Governor Francis Escudero has expressed confidence that the province will be able to achieve the desired population protection against coronavirus disease 19 (Covid-19) before the year ends.

“Marami kaming nabigyan ng first dose noong National Vaccination Days na inaasahan naming mabibigyan ng second dose bago matapos ang taon kung kaya’t mararating namin ang mahigit kumulang na 84.7 percent fully vaccinated rate para sa populasyon ng aming lalawigan na may edad 12 pataas. (We expect that many who were given the first dose of vaccine during the National Vaccination Days would be given their second dose before the year ends, that’s why we are expecting to achieve a more or less 84.7 percent fully vaccinated rate for our population aged 12 and above),” Escudero said in a statement on Tuesday.

Sorsogon province, he noted, is aiming to vaccinate 598,500 people to achieve the 70 percent population protection out of its total of 855,000 residents.

There are so far 178,624 residents already fully vaccinated while 336,971 are still waiting for their second dose.

“If all of these will be vaccinated or completed by Jan. 7, 2022, Sorsogon is expected to vaccinate 86.15 percent of the total target,” Escudero said, as he noted the arrival of more vaccines to the province starting in October, with as much as 40,000 doses per day.

“Sapat na sa ngayon ang mga bakuna ngunit minsan lang ay walang hiringgilya. Pero pinalawig din naman nila ang panahon na ibinibigay sa amin para maturok namin dahil complete set dapat iyon. Ibig sabihin dapat may syringe din silang ipinadadala. (The vaccines are now sufficient, but sometimes syringes are lacking. But they have extended the period for us to do the inoculation because there has to be a complete set. Meaning, they should also send the syringes),” the governor said.

Escudero also assured his constituents that they will not stop vaccinating all qualified individuals even after population protection is achieved, adding that the provincial government intends to commence the giving of booster shots soon.

He said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has now allowed Sorsogon to provide booster shots to its medical front-liners, senior citizens, and those with comorbidities. (PNA)