BARUG Alang sa Kauswagan ug Demokrasya (Bakud) gubernatorial bet Ace Durano is urging the Cebu Capitol to use its media reach to hold a massive information drive regarding vaccines to address hesitancy and improve vaccine utilization in the province.

"Daghan ta’g vaccines nga wala magamit kay daghan nag-alanganin. Daghan sad kaayo'g mabasahan sa social media ang mga tawo nga magduha-duha na sila. To address this, Capitol should use its big media budget to give people the information that they need," said Durano.

As of October 10, 2021, the Visayas Vaccination Operations Center said Cebu Province has 704, 885 doses of Covid 19 vaccines that are unutilized and is encouraging the LGUs to speed up the vaccination drive.

"Lisud kaayo kung masayang ra ni ang mga bakuna. Mas madugay ta'g jumpstart sa atong economy. Ang kailangan nato, proper information from a proper source; dili kanang nadunggan nimo sa imong silingan nga nadunggan rapud niya sa iyang paryente," said Durano.

Capitol has its own news program, Sugbo News, which also has a strong online presence and Durano believes this can be tapped for the vaccine information drive.

Durano said the Capitol can also tap other sectors like the academe and the church to help in the information drive, particularly to address misinformation on the vaccine like becoming a zombie in two years.

The controversial story that the Covid 19 vaccine will turn people into zombies was traced to a Mindanao-based religious group. A video of a pastor's speech warning people of the vaccine was spread widely and has led to vaccine hesitancy.

"People need credible information from credible sources to counter what they read in social media. A massive vaccine education drive by Capitol, together with the academe and church, will give the people the information they need,” said Durano. (PR)