TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan (PIA) - - With the effort to attain herd immunity and to ensure the protection of the public in the various sectors, the Department of Health (DOH) Region 2 has encouraged the Agtas who belong to the Indigenous Peoples (IP) community in Gattaran town to avail of the vaccination program of the government against Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). 

Robin Umoso, nurse, said that anyone can be infected with the virus and cases now in the locality are now increasing. That is why the vaccination team of the region is continuously encouraging people to undergo vaccination, which is seen as the only solution to the pandemic. 

He also said that even the IP communities must be inoculated for them to acquire protection against severe symptoms or even death i ncase they will infected with the virus. 

"We encourage you to submit yourselves for vaccination. Your health officials will enlist you so that you will be vaccinated also. This is for your protection so that we can already move on to the new normal situation," Umoso stressed. 

During the service caravan initiated by various government agencies, the Agtas were reluctant of availing the vaccine because of fear. However, Umoso explained that the vaccines underwent thorough studies concluding that they are safe for inoculation. 

The Agtas explained that there is no COVID-19 in mountains where they live that is why they do not need the vaccines, but, Umoso said that they need to protect themselves because they will soon travel or attend mass gatherings with other people who might be carriers of the virus. 

Of the participants, one was already inoculated who is a member of the health volunteers in their barangay. (JCK/OTB/PIA 2- Cagayan)