Booster shots rollout in Batangas
As part of the national goal to fully vaccinate all medical frontline workers, the elderly, and individuals with immune conditions by the end of 2021, senior citizens and persons with co-morbidities in Batangas have already begun receiving COVID-19 booster shots.
According to Health Secretary and Chair of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) Francisco Duque III, senior individuals are at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19, emphasizing the importance of administering booster doses to them.
“Nakakalungkot po kasi otsenta, nobenta porsyento ng pumapanaw (dahil sa COVID-19) ay mga senior citizen. Kaya kailangan po talagang maprotektahan ang ating mga senior citizens, Duque said during a ceremony here on Thursday.
Additionally, the IATF chair noted that all COVID-19 vaccines prevent severe infections, hospitalizations, and death.
“Ibig ko rin bigyang diin na ang ating mga bakuna. Hangga’t sa maari, ‘wag po tayo mamimili. Mayroon tayong ‘no vaccine preference policy.’ Lahat po ng ibabakuna sa inyo, makakasiguro po tayo na ito ay tunay na ligtas at epektibo at libre,” Duque said.
Batangas is one of the provinces that has achieved high vaccination rates, inoculating 1.4 million residents with their first dose, or 68% of their target population.
In the previous weeks, the rollout of continuous vaccination by the provincial government has been instrumental in curtailing the rise of COVID-19 cases, according to Batangas Governor Hermilando ‘Dodo’ Mandanas.
“Less than 1,000 na ang new cases sa Pilipinas. Dati aabot ng 30,000, kaya ‘yan ang kahalagahan nitong (pagbabakuna) at kahalagahan ng booster,” the governor said.
Dizon, who has served as testing czar and deputy leader of the COVID-19 National Task Force, agreed with Mandanas, noting that testimonials of those who have been vaccinated can help overcome vaccine hesitancy.
“Ang permanent solution sa COVID-19 ay bakuna. Tingnan niyo po ang ating mga healthcare worker, ang ating mga lolo at lola na babakunahan ngayon. Pangatlong bakuna na nila ito. Safe naman sila, wala namang side effect,” Dizon said.
“Wag na kayong matakot. Mas matakot kayo sa COVID kasi traydor ito,” he added.
Secretary Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., chief implementer of the National Task Force against COVID-19 and vaccine czar, noted the importance of local government units in the success of the vaccination campaign against COVID-19.
“Nasa kamay po ng LGU ang paglunas dito sa pandemya na ating hinaharap. Kami po sa national government, we are ready and willing to support you,” Galvez said.
In his remarks, the vaccine czar also noted the importance of increasing vaccination output in Batangas and the rest of Southern Luzon, which is adjacent to Metro Manila.
“Hindi po masesecure ang ating National Capital Region kung hindi po mababakunahan ang CALABARZON at Region 3,” Galvez said.
He likewise stressed the importance of mandating the vaccination of economic workers, especially those reporting onsite.
“Dati hindi natin ma-mandato kasi wala tayong supply. Ngayon, maganda na ang supply natin, at saka gusto nating protektahan ‘yung karamihan,” Galvez said.
In total, 78,528,357 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered nationwide as of November 25.
Of this number, 43,870,322 Filipinos have received the first dose, while 34,555,933 individuals are now fully vaccinated.
HISTORY: Ang Lalawigan ng Batangas
Read more: PILIPINAS NEWS
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