Two international organizations are helping health officials in Negros Occidental convince residents to get booster shots against COVID-19.
Negros Occidental is lagging behind in its booster drive and needs to catch up on its coverage of children, Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, provincial health officer, said Tuesday, December 13.
Negros Occidental has fully vaccinated 78.71 percent of its target population, and 60.90 percent of its senior citizens, which has resulted in its remaining under Alert Level 2, the Department of Health reported on Tuesday.
Relief International of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Reach Health of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) are providing the province with social mobilizers to help convince residents to get vaccinated, Tumimbang said.
He said Relief International has social mobilizers in Sipalay City, Kabankalan City and Cauayan where COVID-19 vaccination has been low.
Relief International also has social mobilizers in San Carlos City that has very low vaccination response, while Reach Health staff are in Toboso and Calatrava, he added.
The provincial government has asked them to extend their social mobilization work until next year, Tumimbang said.
He said the refusal of residents to have booster shots is probably caused by a false sense of security after their first two COVID-19 shots.
The provincial government is also working to increase the number of children vaccinated in the province, Tumimbang said.*