THE Zamboanga City Health Office (CHO) has recorded 11,771 individuals who availed of booster vaccines since the night market coronavirus disease (Covid-19) vaccine booster rolled out here.
The CHO said in a statement that the figure covers the vaccine booster rollout at the night market on Rizal Street, Zone 4 village that started August 15, and the night market in Baban Street in Baliwasan village that started September 5.
The conduct of the night market is part of the activities of the Zamboanga Hermosa Festival, the highlight of which is the feast of Our Lady of the Pillar, the most revered patron saint of this city.
The night market, which provides small-time businessmen an avenue to recover their losses due to the pandemic, will end on October 31.
To encourage residents to get boosted, Mayor John Dalipe launched the rice incentive program wherein a vaccinee gets free five kilos rice as an incentive for a vaccine booster dose.
Dalipe said Thursday that the incentive program is in support of the national government’s PinasLakas campaign that aims to strengthen the country’s wall of immunity against Covid-19.
The mayor added that the booster incentive program he initiated will be continued and expanded to encourage more individuals to get vaccine boosters and consequently get added protection against Covid-19.
Dalipe reiterated his call for people to prioritize booster doses and get the added wall of protection as the coronavirus remains ever-present in the community.
He made the reiteration as the wearing of face masks is now optional, particularly in public open spaces. (SunStar Zamboanga)