Guv mulls treating vaxx drive ‘like an election campaign’

By Joseph B.A. Marzan

Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. on Thursday expressed his belief that treating the national vaccination days on Nov 29 to December 1 like the 2022 election campaign will increase the number of vaccinees in the province.

The provincial government will hold a regional caravan today, Nov 26, to launch the 3-day Bayanihan Bakunahan national vaccination blitz, with caravans in each of the five districts in the province.

Provincial Health Officer (PHO) Maria Socorro Quiñon said in a press release on Tuesday that they aim to inoculate 338,716 persons or 112,905 daily in three days.

In his regular press conference on Thursday, Defensor cited the different sorties made by 2022 election candidates nationwide, including in Iloilo.

He said that applying the same “hyped over” election campaigns to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be effective in getting people vaccinated.

“If you’ve noticed, since the filing of [Certificates of Candidacy], we have been roving around the province. There is campaign fever right now, so we will include that for vaccination. If we campaign for vaccination like how we do in every election, we can reach our targets,” Defensor said.

The governor admitted that the challenge was big, but he said that they will push to accomplish the targets.

He cited the procurement of additional logistics and supplies, as well as the hiring of additional vaccinators and encoders to help local government units in the 42 municipalities and Passi City.

He also cited the advantage of being under Alert Level 2 status, saying that it would help increase mobility to vaccinate people while additional and active COVID-19 cases have remained low.

“We are chasing the target and we are doing everything not because of the target but because we need to do it. That is what Level 2 is all about. This is an open quarantine measure regime. Establishments and activities are open to 100 percent of the venue capacity, 50 percent if indoor and 70 percent if outdoor. High level of public gatherings is allowed, but everyone should be vaccinated. That is what we are doing, so that everyone can do their Christmas parties,” the governor said.

He further cited the new three-component strategy in COVID vaccinations, which include Vaccinators, Vaccines, and Vaccinees.

The provincial government has hired 39 out of 132 needed medical officers, 233 out of 332 needed nurses, and 499 out of 676 needed nursing attendants.

For Vaccines, the province has also procured additional syringes in addition to the supplies from the Department of Health and other local health authorities.

The Vaccinees strategy includes partnerships with the media and other communication strategies to continue encouraging residents to get vaccinated.

PHO vaccination data as of Nov. 24, 2021 indicated that 496,434 people have been fully vaccinated, out of 729,195 who have received at least their first dose.