The Department of Health (DOH) is working with local government units to convince the elderly to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as 2.4 million senior citizens across the country remain unvaccinated.
Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said the vaccination process should be eased and be made more accessible to the elderly population who are vulnerable to the disease and its severe form.
“‘Yung iba ayaw na kasi sabi nila mamamatay na sila. Hindi nila naiintindihan na ‘pag sila ay nagkasakit ay ma-affect din ‘yung kanilang pamilya at kailangan siguro mas mapadali ang ating proseso,” she said in the February 21 Laging Handa briefing.
“Iyong iba nahihirapan pumunta sa malalayong vaccination sites. Ang ginawa ng mga ibang lokal na pamahalaan, nag-house-to-house. Iyong iba ay nilapit iyong tinatawag nating mobile fixed posts,” she added.
The National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) has been coordinating with the National Commission of Senior Citizens to urge more elderlies to receive their doses.
Cabotaje, who also chairs the NVOC, said many hesitant senior citizens are from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and from the north due to cultural and religious beliefs.
“Kung ang Malaysia at Indonesia na Muslim countries ay mataas ang bakunahan, ano pa ang dapat gawin sa BARMM? We’re looking at sharing experiences. Ano ba ang ginawa sa Malaysia at Indonesia na nagkumbinsi sa ating mga mamamayan na magpabakuna,” she said.
Boosters
The DOH said it is also a challenge convincing fully vaccinated individuals to get their COVID-19 vaccine booster shots.
The official said only around a million of the three million individuals due for their booster shots during the third round of Bayanihan, Bakunahan from February 10 to 18 were administered with the dose.
“Hindi nila nakikita yung urgency. Alam nila na importante ang bakuna, alam nila na importante ang booster, pero ‘di nila alam ‘yung urgency. Ayaw nila mag-miss ng trabaho kasi isang araw na ‘di [papasok],” she said.
“We will now need to adjust by area at by sector kung ano ‘yung kailangan nating gawin para sa booster,” she added.
More than 90% of the country’s healthcare workers are fully vaccinated, but only 44% of them had their booster shots. The figures are even lower among senior citizens at 19%. – Report from Mark Fetalco/AG
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