Lack of understanding snags drive to allay Covid-19 vaccine fears

MANILA – Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar admitted Wednesday that Filipinos’ lack of knowledge about the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccine continues to be a “widespread problem” amid communication efforts to allay public fears.

Andanar’s admission came a day after Senate President Vicente Sotto III urged the government to double its efforts to fight fake news about Covid-19 vaccines.

In a press statement, Andanar acknowledged that lack of understanding, as well as the spread of false information about the vaccines, make it more complicated to convince more Filipinos to get inoculated.

“The challenge of the lack of understanding in this regard remains a widespread problem. This gets further complicated with misinformation and disinformation by some individuals and groups who claim that vaccination is not an ideal and safe option for virus immunization,” he said.

Andanar, nevertheless, assured Sotto that PCOO is stepping up its information drive to “further educate and enlighten Filipinos on the government’s vaccination program.”

“With clear and concise communications and information drives, knowledge and clarity on the matter will be achieved,” he said.

In a statement, Sotto said the government should inform the public about the advantages of receiving the Covid-19 vaccines and the health risks of refusing to participate in the mass immunization drive.

Intensified campaign

Andanar said the PCOO, as the lead communications arm of the Duterte administration, has already conducted an intensified communications and information campaign on the upcoming rollout of the government’s free vaccination program.

“We will continue our intensified communications and information campaigns in order to inform every Filipino and assist the national government in the rollout and implementation of our national vaccination program so that we can heal, recover, and rise as one nation,” he said.

Andanar is confident that the “Laging Handa” website, press briefings, “Explain, Explain Explain: Pagdalaw” events, different town hall meetings, and media literacy trainings would enable the government to reach its goal of getting at least 70 percent of the population inoculated to achieve herd immunity.

The government hopes to vaccinate around 70 percent of the population in the country, with front-line workers and vulnerable groups as priority, to have herd immunity.

Herd immunity is defined as the indirect protection from an infectious disease that happens when a population is immune either through vaccination or immunity developed through the previous infection, the World Health Organization has said.

Andanar said the national and local governments are exhausting all efforts to let Filipinos understand the importance of getting inoculated.

He added that different contents for social and traditional media platforms are being utilized and maximized to inform the Filipinos of the government’s vaccination program and its benefits.

“We want to deliver to them the message that the vaccination program can save lives, revive hopes, and shape our collective future as a nation,” Andanar said.

On Jan. 19, the PCOO and its attached agency, the Philippine Information Agency, launched the “Explain, Explain, Explain” information campaign which aims to boost the public’s confidence in receiving the Covid-19 vaccine.

Andanar also expressed willingness on Jan. 27 to be one of those who will be inoculated to encourage Filipinos to avail themselves of the free Covid-19 vaccine once the government launches its immunization drive.