REGION 1 failed to meet its target to inoculate some 750 thousand individuals during the recently concluded National Vaccination Days.

And understandably, Pangasinan, being the largest and most populated province, the bulk to be inoculated is expected to be served by the provincial government. That’s only the first problem. The second problem is if the allotted supply of vaccine is not administered on time, the provincial government must contend with its usage before the supply expires.

Given the target number, it is obvious that a large sector in the province remains resistant to the vaccine. A new communication plan must be launched to address the resistance, mostly out of ignorance or fake news on social media.

The government should consider shifting its focus on both the message and the messenger, not on the message alone.  This will require testimonials from popular media and entertainment personalities whom targeted sectors look up to, to talk about how vaccines helped hm/her family and her community in making them safe from COVID-19 infection.

On the ground, a policy must be adopted to make our mayors and barangay officials accountable for a targeted number of residents to be inoculated. To aid them, resources must be made available for mobile operations of a vaccination team to process and administer the vaccines in barangays.

At the same time, barangays with their own IRA allotment, can arrange for scheduled transport to main vaccination venues in all towns since most are still a distance to access and imposes costs on marginalized families.

With deliberate and untried strategies, targets can be met.

 

Duterte’s bet

NOW that Sen. Bong Go is out of the presidential derby, who will now take his place as the administration’s bet for the May 2022 elections?  Hard to tell.  But almost immediately after Go had declared his withdrawal, Isko Moreno expressed hopes he’d be endorsed in his Palace bid by President Duterte.  Up until now, Duterte’s camp is mum on that.  Before he quit, Go was running for vice president, soon becoming the PDP-Laban’s presidential timber replacing Sen. Bato dela Rosa.  Dela Rosa said he withdrew to obey a decision by the party headed by Mr. Duterte.  The loud whisper now is, the President might yet adopt Bongbong Marcos as Go’s replacement?  Not far-fetched, considering that Sara Duterte, the President’s daughter, is Bongbong’s running mate. Never mind that Mr. Duterte has called one presidential wannabe as “weak”—that contender being widely believed to be Bongbong.  If ever, what else is new?

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments