Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 14) – Lanao del Sur on Friday appealed for help from national authorities to address vaccine hesitancy and increase medicine supply in the province.
Gov. Bombit Adiong said only 16% of Lanao del Sur’s eligible population had already been vaccinated against COVID-19, with just about 290,000 vaccine doses administered as of Jan. 8.
Adiong added that vaccine hesitancy is still prevalent in the province, especially among residents who think vaccines are bad for their health.
“Nakakahiya sabihin pero naniniwala pa rin sila sa fake news. Hindi natin malaman kung papaano natin sila makumbinse. Ang mga preacher natin, every Friday sa loob ng mosque, nagse-sermon din sila tungkol sa vaccines na ito’y hindi nakakasama sa ating katawan,” the governor told CNN Philippines’ The Final Word.
[Translation: It’s embarrassing but many of our residents still believe in fake news. We don’t know how to convince them. Our preachers, they include in their sermons every Friday in mosques that vaccines are not bad for our health.]
Adiong also sought the help of the national government to increase their medicine supply as they step up efforts in combating COVID-19 cases in the province.
The governor said they need medicines for cough, colds, and other bacterial infections among kids and adults like paracetamol, carbocisteine, acetylcysteine, azithromycin, and co-amoxiclav.
