Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 2)— The government plans to hire and deploy “social mobilizers” in a bid to boost the COVID-19 vaccination drive in areas with low inoculation rates.
They will primarily focus on information dissemination, Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said during Saturday’s Laging Handa briefing.
“Ibig sabihin, bago pumunta iyong mga mag-house-to-house ay kailangan may mag-i-inform sa community kung ano iyong mga side effects, ano iyong mga bisa, etcetera para makumbinsi silang magpabakuna,” Cabotaje said.
[Translation: It means before we do house-to-house campaign, there should be people who would inform the community about the side effects, its benefits, etcetera, so they can convince them to get vaccinated.]
The Health official added that they hope to tap these social mobilizers “by next week.”
Among the low-coverage areas Cabotaje cited was the Bangsamoro region — which she said has only logged a 27% fully vaccination rate.
She also said officials are planning to hold special vaccination days in concerned areas after Holy Week.
Around 67 million Filipinos are now fully inoculated against COVID-19, according to latest government data.
