ILOILO City – Undaunted by a recent unfavorable survey result, the city government is taking the campaign on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination down to the grassroots.
Earlier, the City Health Office (CHO) distributed vaccine consent forms to households in the city’s 88 barangays. Only residents 18 years old and above were eligible to sign the form which also indicated the brand of vaccines to be used in the inoculation – AstraZeneca’s AZD1222.
Of the 9,731 respondents, only 2,822 or 29 percent were willing to be inoculated.
What would happen to the other 71 percent or the vaccine-hesitant residents?
The village chief of Barangay Calumpang in Molo district said they would be listing those who did not submit themselves for COVID-19 vaccination and have them undergo an orientation.
“Ginakuha naton ang list sang mga wala naghatag sang ila approval kag maobra initiatives man ang aton barangay officials nga pangtaga-an ini sila sang nagakaigo nga orientation agud ang pagpangduha–duha nila kag kahadlok madula man,” Punong Barangay Roberto Niño told Panay News.
According to Niño, in coordination with the CHO and the Iloilo City COVID-19 team, they will invite experts for the proposed information drives. This may start early next month.
“May platform kita para madula ang doubts kag maintindihan sang wala naghatag consent ang about sa COVID vaccine,” said Niño.
After the orientation, those who would opt for the jab would be given another consent form to fill out.
Those who would still decline, meanwhile, won’t be forced to be inoculated.
Niño, also the Liga ng mga Barangay vice president, however clarified that not all who have submitted themselves for CVODI-19 vaccination will be vaccinated.
He emphasized that there will be a pre-assessment on the individual’s medical condition.
In the consent form, residents are asked about their medical history which could be the basis for the pre-assessment.
Furthermore, according to Niño, the CHO and the COV ID team already started the vaccine information drive among punong barangays, barangay officials and barangay health workers, among others.
Niño said some barangay captains, especially the elderly and the immunocompromised, were hesitant in getting the vaccine.
“Sa 180 ka mga punong barangays, may mga gapang duha-duha pero waay gahambal nga indi magpabakuna. There is doubt, nakulbaan sila basi may side effects,” Niño added.
“Pero ang aton mga district medical doctors, aton CHO and even ang aton COVID-19 team gapasalig nga ang aton vaccine nga iturok sa aton mga pumoluyo safe kag maka protektar sa ila,” he said.
The barangays also initiated their own information drives through posting on their social media pages the information from the Department of Health such as the frequently asked questions regarding COVID-19 vaccine./PN
