Arjohn Gangoso, Department of Health-Region 12 (Soccsksargen) health education and promotion officer (PNA GenSan file photo) GENERAL SANTOS CITY - The Department of Health in Soccsksargen Region (DOH-12) is targeting to capture more eligible individuals among the general adult population in the expanded mass vaccination against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). Arjohn Gangoso, DOH-12 health education and promotion officer, said Thursday the vaccination activities have rolled out in the rural health units (RHUs) for the remaining adults who were not included in priority groups A1 to A5. He said the agency has released the vaccination guidelines to the provincial, city and municipal health offices. "We're expecting that our vaccination coverage and accomplishment will further increase as we go full swing with the eligible adults in the general population," Gangoso told reporters. He said more residents have been lining up for the vaccines but noted that they are still concerned about those who are hesitant to get them. As of October 5, he said a total of 1,099,518 doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been already administered to eligible individuals in the region's four provinces and four cities. Some 538,211 residents have been listed as fully vaccinated while 561,307 others are awaiting their second doses, he said. DOH-12 reported some 96,849 individuals under priority group A1 (frontline health care workers) as fully vaccinated, 125,333 under A2 (senior citizens), 263,226 under A3 (persons with comorbidities), 52,796 under A4 (front-liners in the essential sector), and seven under A5 (indigent population). The inoculation coverage in the region drastically increased in the last two months after the DOH and the National Vaccine Operations Center allocated more vaccines for the area. The delivered vaccines include Sinovac, AstraZeneca, Sputnik V, Janssen, Moderna, and Pfizer. Based on the guidelines issued by DOH-12, through regional director Dr. Aristides Tan, the vaccination of the general adult population covers those aged 18 years old and above. RHUs are allowed to utilize vaccines that were procured by the national government and not those donated through the World Health Organization-led COVAX Facility. Tan said the inoculation of the remaining individuals under priority groups A1 to A5 will also continue. He added that the vaccination of individuals aged 12 to 17 years old is not yet being implemented in the region while those with comorbidities may be considered provided they undergo a thorough assessment and submit proper medical clearances. (PNA) }