Published March 1, 2021, 10:47 PM
The provincial government of Iloilo is eyeing awareness campaign in the grassroots level to convince residents to get vaccinated against coronavirus disease.
Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. emphasizes the importance of raising awareness on benefits of COVID-19 vaccine. (Tara Yap/Manila Bulletin)
“We will do our best to campaign and encourage to get vaccinated,” said Governor Arthur Defensor Jr.
This is officials found that there is a high rate of hesitancy among residents to get the vaccine against COVID-19 when it arrives.
In particular, Mayor Jaime Esmeralda of Igbaras town revealed that only three out of 100 people are willing to be vaccinated. Esmeralda, a medical doctor by profession, said many of those who oppose getting vaccinated are unsure of the side effects.
Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. of Iloilo province. (Tara Yap/Manila Bulletin)
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Dapat, tumanon ta ina. Indi kita mag ginutok. (We should comply with it),” Defensor emphasized, referring to the need to follow health protocols at all times.
Data from the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) showed that COVID-19 cases this January registered higher than those recorded in the last two months of 2020.
January has not yet ended, but the province has already recorded almost 600 cases in the 42 towns and a component city of Iloilo province. In comparison, there were only 368 cases last December 2020, and 524 cases last November 2020.
Defensor said the spike in the number of COVID-19 cases was not surprising as health officials already projected it due to the holiday season.