MANILA — The Bangsamoro regional government is planning to hold special COVID-19 vaccination days next month in a bid to raise inoculation coverage, a local health official said Sunday.

"Magkakaroon tayo ng ating Bayanihan, Bakunahan exclusively dito sa BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao)," said Dr. Amirel Usman, director general of the Bangsamoro Ministry of Health.

Usman said local officials are eyeing to give the jab to 215,776 people during the special vaccination days, which will be held on the following dates:

• Basilan (May 11-13, May 16-18)
• Lanao del Sur (May 16-20)
• Maguindanao (May 17-19)
• Sulu (May 11-13)
• Tawi-Tawi (May 18-20)
• Marawi City (May 5-7)
• Lamitan City (May 11-13)

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So far, there are 959,694 fully vaccinated individuals in the Bangsamoro region, representing 28 percent of the target population, Usman said.

He said there is a sufficient supply of vaccines in the region and hesitancy among the residents is the main reason for the low coverage.

"Ang problema talaga natin ang hesitancy... especially doon sa ating kababayan na nasa malalayong lugar at saka sa tinatawag nating geographically isolated [at] disadvantaged areas," he said.

(Our problem is really hesitancy... especially among those living in remote areas and so-called geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.)

• Pagbabakuna kontra COVID-19 pahirapan pa rin sa BARMM

But Usman said the government has intensified its information drive to combat vaccine disinformation.

"Kailangan lang talaga natin iparating sa kanila 'yong kahalagahan ng pagbabakuna. Kapag nalaman naman nila, medyo madali na sa amin 'yong pagbabakuna sa kanila at napapapayag naman natin," he said.

(We just need to show them the importance of vaccines. Once they're aware of that, it's easier for us to have them inoculated.)

Usman added that religious leaders have declared that COVID-19 vaccination does not disrupt fasting as the Muslim majority in the region continue to observe Ramadan.

• Pagsunod sa health protocols pinaalala sa pag-uumpisa ng Ramadan

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez earlier said he was warned by the Department of Health and the World Health Organization that Bangsamoro may experience a "mini" COVID-19 surge due to its low vaccination coverage.

• Experts worried of 'mini' COVID surge in BARMM amid low vaccination rate: Galvez

As of April 7, some 66.5 million individuals in the Philippines are considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19, of whom 12.3 million have received booster shots.

• Philippines: COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker