AFTER Negros Occidental was reported to be lagging behind in the vaccination drive against coronavirus disease (Covid-19), Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson has assured the Department of Health (DOH) to increase the province's inoculation turnout in two months.
"We will have to do better," he said, adding that "I did not give any excuses but I said for the next two months they will see an increase in our vaccine rollout."
The status of the province's vaccination output was brought up by DOH - Western Visayas Regional Director Dr. Adriano Suba-an when he met Lacson at the Provincial Capitol Building in Bacolod City last week.
The governor said they will leave it to the local government units (LGUs) to decide whether, or not, they will introduce incentives for residents who will be vaccinated.
He said they are committed to reaching herd immunity by February 2022, saying it's now "more realistic."
"We will be asking our barangay captains to convince their constituents because it is only when you have the willing constituents that you can create demand," Lacson explained.
At present, Lacson said, he cannot yet consider any incentives for any barangays in the province who will be able to perform well in the Covid-19 vaccination program as it is already late.
Although, he did not discount the possibility of introducing it next year.
"It is almost the end of year already so I can't promise, but maybe next year," he said.
Lacson points vaccine hesitancy to misinformation such as those being spread by individuals from religious denominations who claim that the vaccines are "no good" or "unacceptable" as well as "fake news" circulating on social media.
However, another factor that may have triggered the low vaccine turnout is accessibility of the jabs.
Lacson said some areas in Negros Occidental are still hard to reach but they are now looking for ways to bring the vaccines to these places.
Several LGUs in the province such as the cities of Escalante, La Carlota, and the town of Toboso have already introduced incentives to individuals who are willing to get vaccinated.
Among the incentives included free grocery items, cash assistance, or both.
Other LGUs in the province, meanwhile, have even proposed holding raffle draws for vaccinated individuals.
As of November 15, data from the DOH - Western Visayas showed that Negros Occidental currently has 1,306,972 unvaccinated individuals.
The province also recorded 518,398 of the 1,825,370 target population already receiving at least one dose of the vaccine.