DOH-CAR tells Lubuagan barangay officials to take COVID-19 jabs first to enhance public trust

Lubuagan, Kalinga-Department of Health Region Cordillera (DOH-CAR) urged Lubuagan barangay officials to lead the Covid-19 immunization as a means to encourage constituents to take the anti-coronavirus jab.

The Local Government Unit (LGU) of Lubuagan admitted that public trust in vaccines is critical because of misinformation and misguided fears even amid the heightened Information Education Campaign on coronavirus disease.

Recently, DOH-CAR Assistant Regional Director Dr. Amelita M. Pangilinan purposely visited the upper municipalities of Kalinga including Lubuagan to talk to respective Local Chief Executives (LCEs), their Health Officers, Barangay Captains, and Rural Health Units staff to give attention to the Covid-19 vaccination program especially that Christmas Season is fast approaching, and numerous gatherings are expected.

In her talks on November 5 at the Lubuagan Gymnasium as related by Lubuagan Health Officer Dr. Caroline Agyao, Pangilinan recommended that barangay officials and their family members should be given jabs first before their constituents to show vaccination support, trust and break vaccine skepticism.

Pangilinan likewise advised “LGU and barangay officials and barangay health workers to help in the vaccination program” and compel “LGU employees and officials to get vaccinated 100 percent” to meet the target of 70% of the population to be immunized by the end of November.

Other recommendations set by the ARD are: 1.) Possible start of immunization of the 12 to 17-year-old population, 2.) DOH Community Based Immunization NDPs (Nurses Deployment Program) must be able to immunize 11 children-target per day, 3.) Conduct house-to-house vaccination strategies due to the terrain of lubuagan, 4.) Reach out to far-flung barangays, and 5.) By November 30, the targeted population shall be able to receive at least their first dose of the vaccine.

To overcome fear as the word “vaccination” has potentially created alarm, she also advised to address or use the word “immunization” instead, while reminding the concerned officials to educate yLubuagans that vaccines are to protect and immunize the whole community individually and collectively against COVID.

Meanwhile, in a separate interview, Mayor Charisma Anne Dickpus agreed with the ARD’s statement as the LGU still needs more people to come forward for vaccination.

“Maawatan tayo nga adda pay lang dagiti very cautious panggep ditoy vaccine isunga kasapulan nga tuloy-tuloy ti information dissemination ket kanayon tayo a nga ipalpalagip nga dagitoy nga vaccine ket nag-undergo ti rigorous processes,” Dickpus said.

The mayor expressed hope that the efforts of health workers and front liners campaign will bring good outcomes for the municipality to achieve its goal of herd immunity.

OTHER NEWS

30 Pasil farmers trained on GAP vegetable production graduate from season-long field school

Follow Guru Press Cordillera on Facebook for more News and Information