MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--Although there was initial hesitation in getting vaccinated, residents of Balindong town are now open to get vaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
Balindong Mayor Benjamin Bagul attributed this to the intensified vaccination campaign conducted by the municipal government in partnership with the Rural Health Unit and the Department of Health.
"Nasa rural area tayo at alam natin na very hesitant ang mga tao but through the efforts ng munisipyo, yung Rural Health Unit, at yung Department of Health, naengganyo naman yung mga tao. Medyo dumadami na yung nagpapabakuna," he said in an interview with Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar during the Network Briefing News Tuesday, August 17.
[We are in a rural area and we know that the people are very hesitant but through the efforts of the municipality, the Rural Health Unit, and the Department of Health, the people are encouraged. The number of those willing to get vaccinated is increasing.]
Bagul said when there is no scheduled vaccination rollout in the municipality, their residents would go to the Provincial Bakuna Center in Marawi City to get inoculated.
Managed by the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO), the Provincial Bakuna Center is open every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday not just for Lanao del Sur residents but also for non-residents working within the province.
Bagul said they will continue and further strengthen their vaccination campaign so that more residents would submit themselves for Covid-19 jabs to achieve herd immunity.
Meanwhile, the IPHO has scheduled another vaccination rollout in the municipalities of Balindong, Marantao, and Madamba on Thursday, August 19.
As of August 15, a total of 79,507 doses were administered by the IPHO of which 43,117 are considered as fully vaccinated having received the second dose or the single dose of the Janssen vaccine. In terms of priority population, 5,629 frontline health workers, 5,537 senior citizens, 24,741 persons with comorbidities, and 4,210 frontliners in essential sectors were already fully vaccinated. (APB/PIA-ICIC)
