The Department of Health on Wednesday lauded the province of Ilocos Norte for having the highest rate of elderly people vaccinated against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in the entire country.

Based on records of the Provincial Health Office, the province has an accomplishment rate of more than 100 percent of the target population of senior citizens or 68,237 elderly individuals who received the first and second doses of vaccines.

Dr. Josephine Ruedas, provincial health officer of Ilocos Norte, said in an interview Wednesday that they never expected the distinction because at first, they were having a hard time convincing senior citizens to get inoculated.

Ruedas, along with Gov. Matthew Joseph Manotoc, received the award on Wednesday from the DOH, through the Department of the Interior and Local Government, during the Seal of Good Local Governance regional assessment held at the capitol auditorium. The award came with a PHP10,000 gift certificate courtesy of SM Supermalls in support of the national government’s vaccination rollout.

“Thank you to all our counterparts in rural health units, the local government units, and all those who have been instrumental in encouraging our seniors to get vaccinated,” Ruedas said as she urged the elderly people again to avail of their third dose of booster shots.

According to Ruedas, booster shots are needed to ensure continuous protection against the virus.

To date, Ruedas reported that the administration of booster shots was still low at 30 percent, out of the total estimated population of 620,052. (PNA)