DAGUPAN CITY (PIA) – The Department of Health (DOH) Ilocos is holding a week-long “Bakunahang Bayan: PinasLakas Special Vaccination Days” from September 27 to October 1 to intensify the vaccination roll-out with full support from the national and local government units (LGUs).
In Pangasinan, the ceremonial launching of the Bakunahang Bayan is scheduled on Wednesday, September 28 at the Orbos Gymnasium in Sta. Barbara town.
DOH Ilocos regional director Paula Paz Sydiongco said the campaign implements the settings-based approach in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination, making the vaccines more accessible to the people.
Sydiongco said, “This is also to ensure that the targets for the First 100 Days will be achieved. The Bakunahang Bayan will continue to bring vaccines in the communities, including workplaces, malls, markets, terminals, plaza and churches.”
The campaign focuses in areas with high number of target population for higher immunization coverage, conduct social preparation to the identified priority age groups through barangay officials and municipal health officers, deploy more vaccination teams and establish more mobile vaccination and temporary outreach posts, and integrate immunization in other public services and programs provided in the community.
It shall also establish hospital vaccination sites and mobilize hospital vaccination teams and organize all national government agencies such as OCD, DILG, AFP, PNP, BFP, BJMP, DepEd, CHED, DSWD, DOLE, PIA, POPCOM and local counterparts and ensure vaccination of all government employees.
The government also mobilizes all civil society organizations and private sector partners and encourages LGUs with assistance of private partners to provide incentives to vaccinees and vaccination teams.
She said, “All vaccination sites shall adopt the ‘No Wrong Door Policy,’ meaning all individuals who want to avail of the free COVID-19 vaccine shall be accommodated in any vaccination site basta dala ninyo ang inyong vaccination card.”
“Sa mga hindi makapagbakuna during weekdays for whatever valid reasons, you can now proceed to any vaccination site during the weekends. Walang dahilan upang hindi po tayo mabigyan ng bakuna dahil kailangan po natin ito para po makumpleto ang ating proteksyon laban sa COVID-19,” Sydiongco emphasized.
Currently, Region 1 has a total of 447,077 or 84% senior citizens with primary series and 1,213,457 or 29% individuals ages 5-59 years old with first booster dose.
The DOH launched the PinasLakas campaign last July 26, 2022 following the directives of the President to vaccinate 90% of senior citizens with primary series and 50% of the eligible population to receive the first booster dose. (JCR/AMB/PIA Pangasinan)
