VACCINE HESITANCY: WHAT’S THE SCORE?

THE Philippines Graphic and PHAPCARES Foundation led a webinar on “Vaccine Hesitancy: Epekto sa Buhay, Epekto sa Bayan," on Friday (June 25). Joining the virtual forum were: (First row) Bulacan Gov. Daniel Fernando, Bataan Gov. Albert Garcia, Businessmirror and Philippines Graphic Publisher T. Anthony C. Cabangon, Businessmirror Editor in Chief Lourdes Molina-fernandez, Philippines Graphic Wellness Editor Anne Ruth Dela Cruz; (second row) Dagupan Mayor Marc Brian Lim, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Benhur Abalos, Parañaque City Administrator Fernando Soriano, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong; (third row) Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-rubiano, Special Adviser to the National Task Force Against Covid-19 Dr. Ted Herbosa, PHAPCARES Foundation President Yee Kok Cheong, PHAPCARES Foundation Executive Director Dr. Rosarita Siasoco, and DOH Health Promotion Bureau Director Dr. Beverly Lorraine Ho.

IF supply and distribution will not complicate the vaccination rollout, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos is confident that the target of at least 50 percent of Metro Manila’s 14-million population can be attained by September.

This was reiterated by Abalos during the Philippines Graphic webinar organized in partnership with the PHAPCARES Foundation, the Department of Health and the Businessmirror, entitled: “Vaccine Hesitancy: Epekto sa Buhay, Epekto sa Bayan”.

As of June 22, around 3.6 million of Metro Manila’s population of about 14 million have been vaccinated—2.8 million received the first dose while 877,958 received the second dose, said Abalos, citing data based on daily reports of National Capital Region (NCR) local government units. Metro Manila posts an average of 114,000 jabs a day at present.

“The numbers are encouraging; the pace of the vaccination is increasing. The National Government, through National Vaccination Operations Center and led by Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr., ensures the steady supply of Covid-19 vaccines in Metro Manila,” Abalos said.

Around 14 million jabs would be needed to achieve the 50-percent target, Abalos said, “and so far with the 3.6-million jabs done as of June 22, we would be looking at around 10.3 million jabs remaining. Given our daily average jabs, we will be having at least 3.4 million jabs per month. Therefore, the remaining 10.3 million jabs can be attained in three months or less.”

In his presentation, Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III urged private-sector employers to be “creative” and look for “incentives” for people to be vaccinated in the workplace, following examples of some local governments here and abroad.

Bello reiterated DOLE policy that no worker who has not been vaccinated shall be discriminated against in terms of promotion or pay or benefits.

Bataan

DURING the webinar, Bataan Governor Albert Garcia said the province targets herd immunity by December 2021.

As of June 22, Bataan administered a total of 60,205 for the first dose and 15,371 for the second dose.

Pasay

PASAY City Mayor Emi Calixto Rubiano asked everyone to support the government’s vaccination program while also highlighting its significance.

Rubiano said that the start of people’s vaccination means, “we are fighting the virus head-on.”

As of June 24, a total of 116,439 vaccine doses were administered while 34,045 have been vaccinated with the second dose in the city.

Dagupan

MAYOR Brian Lim, meanwhile, encouraged his constituents in Dagupan City to get vaccinated.

“Vaccines do work regardless of the brands,” he stressed.

Of the city’s total population, 4.7 percent have been vaccinated.

Bulacan

FOR his part, Governor Daniel Fernando has asserted that to end this pandemic, “Vaccination is the solution.”

As of June 16, he said over 161,000 doses have been administered for the first dose; and 34,045 for the second dose.

Parañaque

PARAÑAQUE City Administrator Fernando Soriano said they aim to vaccinate 60 percent of their total population by November.

As of June 23, he said that a total of 190,297 doses were administered (first and second doses).

Vaccine supply

MEANWHILE, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong said that even if they wanted to hasten the vaccination rollout, they are hounded by delays in the vaccine supply.

It’s “just a matter of time” that the “Delta” variant, considered as a variant of concern, will be detected in the city, he worried.

“We were very optimistic and we were very enthusiastic also in opening our economy. It’s just unfortunate that we have this problem [delay in vaccine supply],” he lamented.

“And then there comes the Delta variant . . . something inevitable . . . in a matter of time we will get hit by the Delta variant.

We can’t prevent it and I don’t think we would be able to prevent it and we have to prepare for it and that will significantly delay the full opening of our economy. So far, I am talking only, so far as Baguio City is concerned,” he stressed.