‘Mini surge’ of Covid-19 cases in BARMM likely to happen: NVOC

MANILA – A “mini-surge” of Covid-19 cases is likely to happen in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) due to its low vaccination coverage, a health official said Wednesday.

In a televised public briefing, National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) chair Myrna Cabotaje said the Covid-19 vaccination rate in the BARMM is only 32.28 percent.

“Napakalaki ng challenge nila, how to increase coverage from 32.28, kahit increase man lang sa 50 or 60, although ang ultimate goal ay 80 (They have a big challenge, how to increase coverage from 32.28 [percent], at least to 50 or 60 [percent], although the ultimate goal is 80 [percent],” she said.

Data from the Department of Health (DOH) National Covid-19 Vaccination Dashboard on March 30 showed that BARMM has administered only 1,467,157 doses.

Cabotaje disclosed that the NVOC had a meeting with the DOH, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), World Health Organization and World Bank on April 4 to plan vaccination strategies in the region.

“Nakipagpulong din ang NTF chief implementer and vaccine czar Secretary Galvez sa chief minister at iba pang opisyal ng Bangsamoro Region kahapon para makuha ‘yung kanilang commitment at makuha ‘yung kanilang target (The NTF chief implementer and vaccine czar Secretary Galvez also had a meeting with the other Bangsamoro Region officials yesterday to secure their commitment and achieve their target),” she said.

“BARMM Chief Minister Murad Ibrahim committed a whole of Bangsamoro government approach for the rollout of vaccination in the region with the ministers,” she added.

The government has set more special vaccination days in the region in May.