ILIGAN CITY (PIA)--Citizens are reminded anew that they are probable to be at higher risk when they are unvaccinated against the coronavirus disease (COVID)-19.

This, after the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-10 called on the public to partake in the government’s national vaccination program as this gives more benefits than when they remain unvaccinated.

“Ang peligro kung wala kay vaccine mas dako kaysa nagpavaccine ka. Ayaw pagpadala sa kahadlok [The risk when you are unvaccinated is bigger than when you get vaccinated. Do not be carried away by your fears]. Let us not be paralyzed by the fears as to the risks posed by the vaccines or the reactions of the vaccine to our bodies. As reported by the Department of Health (DOH), no one died directly because of the vaccine but many have died already because of the COVID-19,” said DILG-10 Regional Director Arnel Agabe during a virtual conversation dubbed Estorya Ta, Bakuna: Conversations on the Updates, Issues and Concerns, and Ways Forward on the Vaccination Program in Lanao del Norte Monday, June 29.

He said the only way the nation can move forward with its recovery efforts is to achieve herd immunity wherein at least 80% to 98% of the population will be inoculated.

Agabe said the COVID-19 vaccine should already be among the vaccines that people must take as this is safe and beneficial.

“I hope we choose what is proven to be the most effective. As experts and other resources would often say, vaccination is one of the most successful public health interventions. It has led to the control of other diseases. We have to add COVID-19 to our list of vaccination programs that we need to have, especially this year if the vaccines are already available,” he said.

Agabe also called on the province’s local officials to help Governor Imelda Quibranza-Dimaporo and the DOH in installing confidence in the citizens to encourage them to be vaccinated so that the nation may also go full-blast with the efforts to recover from the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

DILG-Lanao del Norte Provincial Director Bruce Augusto Colao backed the regional director’s appeal as he reminded the local officials of the mandate they must uphold in the government’s national vaccination program.

“We would like to reiterate our call sa atong [to our] local government officials to provide the logistical support. Let us be all-out for the effective implementation and success of the vaccination program in Lanao del Norte,” he said. (Claire R. Gigje/PIA-10/ICIC Lanao del Norte)