DOH to engage LGUs in Covid-19 vaccines info drive

DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said they are preparing an information drive in communities to counter false claims about Covid-19 vaccines. (PIA file photo)

MANILA – The Department of Health (DOH) plans to engage local government units (LGUs) in conducting an information campaign about possible vaccines against the coronavirus disease 2019 that may be purchased by the government.

DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said they are preparing an information drive in communities to counter false claims about Covid-19 vaccines.

“We know there are a lot of those anti-vaxxers and we are releasing information bit by bit and we have completed our communication plan to start with the information [drive],” Vergeire said in a mix of Filipino and English during an online media forum on Monday.

Last week, Food and Drug Administration Director General Eric Domingo said Filipinos would not be forced to be vaccinated against Covid-19, reacting to social media posts that urge the public to refuse Covid-19 vaccination.

Domingo added that vaccination cannot be mandatory and the government can only help the public make an informed decision by educating them about the purpose, benefits, and risks of Covid-19 vaccines.

In September, results of a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showed about 66 percent of adult Filipinos are willing to get vaccinated against Covid-19.

The country has earlier secured 2.6 million doses of AstraZeneca-Oxford Covid-19 vaccines through a tripartite agreement with AstraZeneca and the private sector.