ILOILO – Most Panay Bukidnon, an Indigenous Peoples (IP) community in Barangay Garangan, Calinog town, have yet to be vaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
“Halos tanan sa amon nahadlok,” said Leosita Yangco, daughter of Leopoldo “Tay Polding” Caballero, a Panay Bukidnon epic chanter hospitalized due to COVID-19.
There were more or less 400 IPs in Barangay Garangan. Only a few were willing to be vaccinated, said Yangco.
What they learned from social media about COVID-19 vaccines made most of them hesitant. Tay Polding himself was unvaccinated, said Yangco.
She hoped the Panay Bukidnon would be enlightened about vaccination, adding that she herself was interested. Her having goiter, however, was holding her back.
“Basi indi puede,” said Yangco. “Maayo gid kon may mag-edukar para nga masanagan man kami parti sa vaccine.”
Tay Polding is currently confined at the Western Visayas Medical Center in Mandurriao, Iloilo City.
His two sons and a grandchild were also infected.
The sons were confined at the Dr. Ricardo S. Provido Sr. Memorial District Hospital in Calinog while the grandchild was on home quarantine.
The Department of Health (DOH) Region 6 would strengthen its COVID-19 vaccination campaign among members of the IP community, according to Dr. Daphynie Teorima, spokesperson.
“We are trying to tap man ang persons of influence sa ila community para buligan kita magpa-intindi sa ila nga kinahanglanon ini (vaccination),” Teorima said.
She added that prior to rolling out the vaccines, personnel of the municipal health office conduct consultation and orientation in barangays.
DOH Region 6 has yet to disclose how many IPs have so far been vaccinated against COVID-19.
Teorima said IPs are priority group A5 in DOH’s vaccination prioritization framework.
However, IPs who are senior citizens or have comorbidities would be prioritized, she said./PN
