By Myris Lee
The Department of Health (DOH) is preparing to utilize “social mobilizers” to reach areas with low coverage of COVID-19 vaccination to explain the side effects and the advantages of the COVID-19 vaccine.
DOH Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said on Saturday (April 2) in the Laging Handa briefing that this is among the government’s efforts to further strengthen the country’s vaccination program to meet the target nationwide vaccination coverage.
“Ang nakita natin ay magkaroon tayo ng social mobilizers. Ibig sabihin, bago pumunta sa house-to-house, kailangan may mag-i-inform sa mga community, ano ‘yung mga side effect, bisa, para makumbinse sila magpabakuna,” she said.
The DOH official also said the utilization of social mobilizers in partnership with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is set next week.
“By next week, magkakaroon tayo ng [social mobilizers] sa tulong ng ating mga partners na katulad ng UNICEF through the Relief International, magha-hire tayo ng mga social mobilizers para sa mga areas na mababa ang uptake ng bakuna,” Cabotaje said.
Meanwhile, she said the 100% target vaccination coverage by the end of President Rodrigo Duterte’s term is a big challenge, noting that the country has only fully vaccinated 67 million of the population.
“Aaralin natin ‘yan. With much difficulty, kailangan natin i-push. Napakalaki ng ating challenge. Ngayon ay 67 million tayo, may 3 million tayong deficit. Tapos sa 90 million target, may 27 million deficit. Mahihirapan, pero titingnan natin kung ano pa ‘yung puwede nating gawin,” she said. – ag
