Bohol dog vaccination at 51 of 70% -BRPEC

TAGBILARAN CITY, June 1 (PIA)--Bohol struggles to get to, at least 70% of dog population vaccinated against rabies, to peg an accomplishment that approximates world health standards. 

Going beyond that risks Bohol's reputation as a safe tourist haven and a safe place without real public health threat of fatal rabies.

At the moment, Bohol keeps a 51% partial dog vaccination accomplishment, inoculating 59, 612 dog heads of its 116, 342 dog population in Bohol's 47 towns, islands and islets and a city. 

That is according to data from the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (OPV).

OPV through a report from Dr Stella Marie Lapiz, bared that from January to April this year, Bohol still needs to double-up on the general dog population and the dog vaccination coverage.

Of Bohol's 1,109 barangays, the data means the provincial anti-rabies program implementers reached to only 262 barangays, she reports. 

At the recent Bohol Rabies Prevention and Elimination Council meeting May 27 at the Casa Rey Francis, Dr Lapiz also said that Dimiao and Loay towns in Bohol have not made a mark in its anti-rabies efforts for dog vaccination due to the absence of a vaccinator. 

Dr Lapiz, who sits as BRPE Program executive officer, shared that all over Bohol, only 16 towns have relatively notched an acceptable dog-vaccination accomplishment based on their dog population and dog vaccination covered as per vaccines withdrawn from the OPV. 

Alburquerque, Sikatuna, Tubigon, Bien Unido, Clarin, Dagohoy, San Isidro, Trinidad, Ubay, Anda, Batuan, Garcia Hernandez, Lila, Sevilla, Sierra Bullons and Valencia have done their dog vaccinations.

By "done vaccinations," however, it means of their dog population and the number of vaccines they withdrew from the government office for the vaccines, they have reached over 70% vaccine utilization to over 70% of their dog population. 

The BRPEC has dispensed a total of 67,540 vaccines shots to towns and their vaccination teams, who now have reached a total of 59,612 dogs. 

This, according to Dr Lapiz, is 81% of the vaccines utilized, even as vaccinations continue in several towns. (rac/PIA-7/Bohol)