ILOILO – If people remain hesitant to have themselves vaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Mayor Jaime Esmeralda of Igbaras town said he may enforce a “no vaccination, no transaction” policy.
The municipal government of Igbaras has an ongoing information drive on COVID-19 vaccination.
Esmeralda said feedbacks from the five villages they have covered so far were disheartening.
“Nakibot gid kami. Nag-conduct kami sang pulong-pulong. Around 140 to 150 ang mga tawo nga nagtambong pero tatlo lang bala ang naghambal nga mapa-vaccinate,” Esmeralda told Panay News.
The mayor, a medical doctor by profession, said they still have more barangays to consult.
Igbaras has 46 barangays.
Esmeralda said the vaccines’ possible side effects were the top reasons why Igbaranons were skeptical if not fearful.
Some said they wanted more information first, while others said they would “wait and see”.
Esmeralda said he is willing to be publicly injected with the COVID-19 vaccine together with other local officials to “bolster our constituents’ confidence.”
But if this won’t work, he said he may be compelled to enforce a “no vaccination, no transaction” policy.
The mayor said the municipal government would issue a vaccination card to every resident. The card would indicate the COVID-19 vaccination status of the holder.
Should one fail to present the card when transacting in the municipal hall and other public and private institutions in the town, he/she will be turned away, said Esmeralda
“We will make this happen. Sa ‘no vaccine, no transaction’ policy kon wala timo card nga complete imo vaccine indi ka matagaan sang transaction,” Esmeralda said.
The local government of Igbaras targets to inoculate 23,000 or 70 percent of its total population to reach “herd immunity.”
Esmeralda is urging his constituents to trust them for “the government knows what’s best for us.”
“Ang vaccine is the solution sa pandemic. Para ‘ni sa aton kaayuhan tanan,” said Esmeralda.
Since the pandemic started last year, Igbaras recorded 34 COVID-19 cases with 32 recovering completely. Two others died.
As of Wednesday, Feb. 24, Igbaras had no more active cases of COVID-19./PN
