15K BARMM healthcare workers receive first vaccine jab

COTABATO CITY – A total of 15,347 healthcare workers across the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) already received their first dose of vaccine against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on Tuesday, June 2. 

This was announced by Minister Dr. Bashary Latiph of the Ministry of Health (MOH) during BARMM’s 50th cabinet meeting on Thursday, June 3, via virtual teleconference. 

Latiph said the number corresponds to 70 percent of 21,873 healthcare workers under A1 priority group master list. 

As of writing, about 6,334 or 20 percent have completed their doses. 

While the region’s provinces have yet to finish listing their recipients, it has started vaccination to other component subgroups under the priority group A.

Senior citizens, or those 60 years old and above were also vaccinated. Out of the 79,301 listed, 3,910 senior citizens already received their first vaccine shots. 

Some 3,418 individuals with comorbidities have also received their first vaccine jab. 

The region has also vaccinated 1,478 frontline personnel in other essential sectors.

 Vaccination in the region started in the first week of March for the provinces of Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur. A week after, vaccination commenced in the island provinces of Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, while frontline workers in Basilan received their vaccine jabs starting March 15.

The region received a total of 78,800 doses of vaccines from the national government. (BANGSAMORO INFORMATION OFFICE / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)