VAX JAB. A health worker administers the Covid-19 vaccine to an eligible individual in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental in this undated photo. The government on Saturday (March 19, 2022) said it has vaccinated 1.8 million individuals belonging to its targeted population during the fourth leg of the national vaccination drive. (File photo from the Lupad Dumaguete Facebook page/City PIO))
MANILA – The government has vaccinated 1.8 million individuals belonging to its targeted population during the fourth leg of the national vaccination drive dubbed the “Bayanihan, Bakunahan,” the National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) said Saturday.
At the Laging Handa public briefing, NVOC co-lead Dr. Krezia Lorraine Rosario, said vaccination sites nationwide have inoculated over 255,000 children and more than 90,000 senior citizens throughout the fourth national vaccination drive that started on March 10 and was extended until March 18.
Rosario cited the need to make vaccination drives more convenient and accessible to the elderly population, even as house-to-house vaccination, more conversations, and social preparations are being pushed.
She said some of the elderly are still hesitant to get vaccinated due to fear of the possible side effects of the Covid-19 vaccine, adding that some have even said “they’re already in dying age [anyway] so no need for them to get protection” against the dreaded virus.
“Ito po kailangan natin pagtrabahuan na talagang ma-encourage natin sila na mabakunahan kasi po sila yung ating mga vulnerable population na kailangan natin na i-protect (We need to really work on this to really encourage them to get vaccinated because they are the most vulnerable population that should be protected),” Rosario said, noting that the extension of the Bayanihan, Bakunahan 4 was really intended to ramp up the vaccination coverage of priority groups, specifically the senior citizens.
Rosario said there are also some unvaccinated individuals of all ages who are still having fears and doubts about availing of the Covid-19 jabs.
But the government is still going to great lengths to urge more people to get vaccinated, she said.
“We see that we have a lot of groups or populations—if they get proper information and explanation of the benefits as well as the risk—they can be encouraged to get vaccinated,” Rosario added. “This is really the goal—we need to educate and advocate the vaccination.”
More than 64.8 million Filipinos have received primary series against Covid-19 as of March 17, with 11,291,687 fully vaccinated individuals having been administered booster doses. (PNA)
