NAGA CITY, March 1 (PIA) -- Department of Health (DOH) Camarines Sur Provincial Officer Dr. Rey Millena stressed the big role of the local government units (LGUs) in the success of the government’s vaccination program.
During the “Kapihan sa PIA” program led by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Camarines Sur Provincial Office, aired simultaneously over 89.5 Radyo Natin-Naga and One Media TV48 and live streamed over PIA Camarines Sur FB page on Feb. 24, Wednesday, Dr. Millena said that the big role of convincing the constituents to accept the vaccination program of the government will also largely depend on the preparedness and promotion of the LGU’s advocacy.
In the local vernacular, the DOH officer said that this is in response to the whole society, whole nation approach that needs the cooperation and help of everyone.
“We are calling on our chief executives to lead the way to convince their respective constituents on the benefit that the vaccination will bring and remove the hesitancy and fear of the community brought by misinformation. From the municipality down to the barangays, our local officials should see to it that their operation centers are prepared, people are trained and that they can reach and inform even those residents who live on geographically isolated areas just to explain this program of the government,” Millena added.
Dr. Millena admitted that the people’s trust in the COVID vaccine is one of the negative consequences of the Dengvaxia, the dengue vaccine that earned controversy due to some reported ill-effects and alleged death due to complications. He mentioned that even the regular vaccination programs of the government, suffered a heavy blow due to dengvaxia.
With the COVID vaccine, he clarified that even if it is new, it has already passed through various trials, was proven safe and their efficacy was already established.
“Many countries are now using the COVID vaccine to ensure that their residents get the protection they need. It may not give us the perfect solution or the complete healing but it will save us from acquiring more infection if the virus will mutate or replicate in the future,” he added.
The DOH officer said that the COVID vaccine is still undergoing further studies to make it more effective, with lesser side effects. He added that the rich countries that developed the vaccines used their resources, fund researches and gathered the experts just to come up with the vaccine that will solve the ill-effects of COVID-19, and to lessen if not totally cut the number of people getting infected with the virus.
“Let us trust the health experts- we have the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – these are the experts when it comes to health authority. Let us also trust our government,” Millena added. (PIA5/Camarines Sur)
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
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