MAJOR achievement.
This is the best way to describe the successful “Bayanihan Bakunahan” National Vaccination Days from November 29 to December 1 campaign in Laguna, after it was reported that 122 percent of the province’s target population was given the Covid-19 shots.
Especially if we take into context that just three years ago, the Dengvaxia fiasco had caused widespread fear and skepticism about all kinds of vaccines, then it was indeed a major achievement on the part of national and local health officials.
Aggressive campaign
With an aggressive campaign to ensure that Lagunenses are fully protected against Covid-19, local officials in the province have delivered on their goal – in fact, exceeding it.
The success of the province’s own Covid-19 vaccination drive during the “Bayanihan Bakunahan” National Vaccination Days, also highlighted the growing willingness of Lagunenses to take that step of having themselves vaccinated and protect themselves, their family and their community against the coronavirus.
New record
Based on data from the Department of Health (DOH), the province has set a new record as 122 percent of the total “target population” for the three-day campaign has now received their Covid-19 vaccines.
“Hindi lamang po natin basta naabot kundi nahigitan pa natin ang 210,660 na target na mabakunahan. Sa kabuuan ay nakapagbakuna tayo ng higit 256,000 na indibidwal o 122 percent ng ating target,” Laguna Governor Ramil Hernandez said.
Data from the DOH – Region 4A office show Laguna ranks second among the provinces nationwide which shares the biggest output of Covid-19 jab administered across the country.
This, after it inoculated at least 259,642 individuals, exceeding the 210,000 adjusted vaccination target committed by the Provincial Health Office (PHO) and the DOH 4-A.
Of this number, 225,500 have received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccines while 2,451 are now fully vaccinated.
At least 6,691 eligible individuals who sought for booster and additional shot were also given the Covid-19 jab during the three-day mass vaccination drive.
Laguna province is targeting vaccinating 2.4 million residents, or 70 percent of the total population of 3.3 million, to achieve "population protection" against the coronavirus.
Incentives
In order to convince people to get themselves vaccinated against Covid-19 during the three-day "Bayanihan Bakunahan," LGUs in the province have made the process a lot simpler or gave incentives to vaccine recipients.
With vaccine supplies no longer a problem, the cities of San Pedro, Binan, Sta. Rosa and the municipalities of Los Baños and Pagsanjan have allowed "walk-in" vaccine recipients and waived registration to their vaccine portals.
Sta. Rosa City offered free rides for residents going to vaccination sites, while Biñan City ramped up its "Vax on Wheels" program in key areas inside the city.
In Calamba City, vaccine recipients were given three kilos of rice, while San Pablo City launched a "Vaccination Raffle" for those who will avail of the vaccine during the three-day drive.
These incentives, Hernandez related, had an effect in encouraging more people to receive Covid-19 shots.
"Noong first day namin [ng bakunahan], naka 1,500 kami sa isang vaccination area namin sa Calamba. Noong second day, siguro nakaapekto yung nabalitaan na magbibigay ng bigas, naka 3,000 po kami ng nabakunahan," he said.
Worth emulating
National officials were quick to hail Laguna province’s accomplishment during a recent “vaccination tour” at the Sta. Rosa City Sports Complex last December 2.
Vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr., for one, held the province as an example of the “bayanihan” spirit that had spawned the massive three-day vaccination drive.
“Ito ay dahil sa ating pagbabayanihan at pagkakaisa. At dahil sa tagumpay na ito, marami sa ating LGUs ay nais nang ituloy ang ating vaccination hanggang December 5 upang mas madagdagan pa ang mga nabakunahan kontra Covid-19," Galvez told reporters.
Thankful
The Laguna provincial government, on the other hand, thanked the national government for the support they have extended during the three-day vaccination drive.
“Lahat pong ito ay hindi makukuha ng provincial government without the support of our barangays, without the support of our mayors, the private sector, and government agencies,” Hernandez said in his speech during the tour.
“Taos puso naman po akong nagpapasalamat sa lahat ng mga kasamahan ko sa LGU at sa mga doctor, nurses, iba pang healthcare workers, at mga volunteers na naglaan ng kanilang serbisyo para maisagawa ng maayos ang ating mga bakunahan. Dahil po sa inyong suporta at dedikasyon ay napagtagumpayan natin ang ating layunin,” the governor added.
Vax day
The success of the three-day "Bayanihan Bakunahan," on the other hand, has prompted Hernandez to create Laguna's own special vaccination day.
During the conference, the governor announced plans to hold a "Provincial Vaccination Day" on December 13.
To further motivate the towns to vaccinate as many residents as they can, Hernandez also said cash incentives would be given away to the top-performing municipality and city during the vaccination event.
"Bilang motivation sa effort ng mga kasamahan sa pagtratrabaho, kung sino ang magna-number one sa municipality level at sa city level ay bibigyan po natin ng P250,000," he added.
Declining cases
A bigger incentive for taking the Covid-19 shot, however, is the fact that the number of Covid-19 cases in Laguna province had sharply declined last month.
According to the latest Covid-19 update released by the Laguna PHO last November 30, active cases in the province are now down to 181.
Eight municipalities - Alaminos, Nagcarlan, Majayjay, Lumban, Victoria, Liliw, Lusiana and Pangil - have reported zero active Covid-19 cases during that date.
The cities of San Pedro, Biñan and Sta. Rosa, once considered Covid-19 hotspots, have recorded nine, 17, and seven active cases.
Health officials have said the sharp dive in the number of Covid-19 cases is tangible proof that Covid-19 vaccines are the ideal option to finally controlling - if not actually ending - a two-year pandemic that has wreaked havoc not only on people's health but also on the province's economy and social life.