A LUKEWARM support from local officials and the proliferation of fake news are being seen as among the factors that contributed to the low coronavirus disease (Covid-19) vaccination rate in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Barmm).
In a statement, the Department of Health (DOH) identified the weak support from local government units (LGUs) in the Bansgamoro as preventing Covid-19 jabs from reaching more people in the region.
"(One challenge in the vaccination rollout) is the lukewarm support from local chief executives (LCEs) and barangay local government units (BLGUs)," said the DOH.
It also pointed at the continued vaccine hesitancy present in Barmm, bolstered by the proliferation of fake news, as hampering the vaccination rollout.
"The National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) has identified challenges in the vaccination rollout in Barmm, such as: vaccine hesitancy/vaccine preference, and fake news dissemination," said the DOH.
In response, the health department said it will renew its appeal to local officials to back the national vaccination program against Covid-19.
"We will ask support from municipal mayor, head of offices, and BLGUs to capacitate and require them to perform their functions in data management, to monitor and evaluate their roles and functional capacity in every bakuna center, and conduct vaccination to barangays with less conflict, where security and safety is observed," said the DOH.
The agency also said the government will also look to conduct house-to-house vaccination activities, information caravan, dialogue with refusal clients, provision of “ayuda” to be vaccinated, and radio plugging in the region.
"We also wish to assure the Islamic community that Covid-19 vaccine is certified by the Philippine Halal Certification Board as 'Halal' or permissible to the Islam faith," said the DOH.
To note, Barmm has the lowest vaccination rate in the country with only 28.02 percent of their population fully vaccinated against Covid-19. (HDT/SunStar Philippines)