PNA file photo
MALASIQUI, Pangasinan – The Department of Health Center for Health Development in the Ilocos Region (DOH-CHD-1) will deploy social mobilizers in La Union and Pangasinan to aid in the campaign to increase the booster vaccination rate in the provinces.
Glen Ramos, DOH-CHD-1 Health Education Promotion Unit media relations officer, said social mobilizers are nurses who will help convince people to get their free vaccination to further enhance the booster dose coverage of the target population in the region.
“The social mobilizers will conduct house-to-house information campaign, including office and school visits, and explain the side effects and the advantages of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccine and convince people to be inoculated,” he said in a phone interview on Monday.
Ramos said they will also identify the factors on the low acceptance of vaccination in various communities.
Two teams will be deployed in La Union and five in Pangasinan.
The two provinces have a low booster vaccination rate among the four provinces in the region.
“This will be a big challenge for them because they have to convince those who refuse and are afraid of the vaccine. We really need everyone’s help to convince them and provide them the protection they need against the virus, especially now that cases are already on the rise,” DOH-CHD-1 regional director Paula Paz Sydiongco said in a statement.
Sydiongco said the DOH has provided vaccination posts in all areas where people can conveniently come and get their booster shots.
She said the utilization of social mobilizers is in partnership with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
As of July 22, Ilocos Region has vaccinated 3.7 million individuals or 86.9 percent and only 904,964 or 21.9 percent have received their first booster dose.
The DOH will again be launching a nationwide campaign on July 26 called “PinasLakas” Covid-19 vaccination drive which aims to provide primary doses to 90 percent of the target elderly population and immunize 50 percent of the target population with the first booster dose. (PNA)
