The City Health Office (CHO) continues to intensify its efforts to increase the vaccination rate for COVID-19 booster shots in a bid to further enhance immunity against the dreaded virus.

Aside from the fixed inoculation sites in key locations, CHO employs several innovative strategies such as drive-thru, house-to-house and drop-in clinics to give as many fully-vaccinated individuals their booster doses.

The office likewise deploys mobile vaccination teams (MVT) to conduct inoculation activities in business establishments and commercial vessels for eligible workers who are otherwise unable to avail of the jabs due to work.

As of April 13, a total of 1, 312, 216 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in Zamboanga City, of which 667,498 are first dose while 644,718 are second dose.  Of the total number of fully-vaccinated individuals, a total of 124,049 have received their booster jabs.

Amidst talks of a second booster shot for medical frontliners and senior citizens with co-morbidities, city health officer Dr. Dulce Miravite has assured during last Monday’s virtual press briefer that the city is ready to implement the second booster shot round but is still waiting for the guidelines from the national government. (Claudine Uniana)