PALO, Leyte – The municipalities of Padre Burgos and Limasawa Island in Southern Leyte topped among all the municipalities who accomplished 70% and above of its vaccination target.

Experts estimate that herd immunity would require around 80-90% of the population to have COVID-19 immunity, either through prior infection or vaccination.

Dr. Fretzie C. Tomimbang, the Municipal Health Officer and concurrent Municipal Nutrition Action Officer asked the support of the Local Chief Executive and SB members for all barangays of the municipality to support the COVID 19 vaccination. After which, a masterlisting of all eligible population based on prioritization was done community volunteers and Rural Health Midwives.

Furthermore, all the barangays had a unified “bandilyo system” for information dissemination. Regular staff meeting was also conducted to track progress of the vaccination.

The health office also ask the technical assistance of the Provincial Health Service Office and Provincial DOH Office in terms of prompt vaccine delivery and Human Resources for Health to augment manpower compliment.

Indeed support from LGU, advocacy, sound masterlisting, massive information campaign and collaboration with key stakeholders and partners work in the successful conduct of COVID 19 in this topnotch municipalities.

A little more reinforcement will give the two municipalities an herd immunity of around 80-90%, though at the minimum is 70% proportion of vaccinated individuals. Added to this is the recent launching of Pediatric Vaccination in the province that will boost their herd immunity.

Close to the two in reaching the minimum herd immunity is the municipality of Hinundayan and the City of Maasin.

Meanwhile, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention defines “herd immunity” or community immunity, happens when a sufficient proportion of a population (the percentage varies by disease) is immune to an infectious disease through vaccination or prior illness to make its spread from person to person unlikely.

Even individuals not vaccinated (such as newborns and those with contraindications for the vaccines) are offered some protection because the disease has little opportunity to spread within the community.

This herd or community immunity acts as a barrier against the disease, with the immune people breaking the potential chain of transmission so those vulnerable populations are unlikely to get it. #NPC-CPD