Bontoc folks refuse Covid- 19 vaccines but 516 accede

By Alpine L. Killa

BONTOC, Mountain Province – Some folks on this capital town refused being injected with anti-Covid-19 vaccines making town officials urge them to do so even as they asked for help from the regional Dept, of Health on how to handle the situation as cases surged.  Despite this, 516 individuals received their first dose of Covid-19 vaccine since the start of vaccination rollout here on March 18.
    Bontoc Mayor Franklin Odsey urged the reluctant public to avail of the free Covid-19 jabs for their protection and people around them.

The also told those who received their first shots not to be complacent and adhere to health standards.

Those who were vaccinated were in A1 category to include workers of frontline health services and Barangay Health Emergency Teams.

The BHERTs are barangay officials and barangay health workers (BHWs).

The Covid-19 vaccination rollout in Bontoc is being implemented by the Bontoc government through its Municipal Health Office. 

Municipal health officer Dr. Diga Kay Gomez said Bontoc targeted a total of 892 individuals who belong to A1 category.

Of 892 total target, 479 are members of the BHERTs, but only 223 individuals received their Covid- 19 vaccine shots.

The 256 remaining members of the BHERTs declined to be vaccinated due to different reasons.  

Before the start of the vaccination rollout, MHO personnel have been going around the barangays of Bontoc to conduct information education and communication (IEC) drive about Covid-19 vaccination program of the government.

The MHO bared information about the vaccine during meetings and barangay assemblies, distributed IEC materials; coordinated with barangay officials and midwives and mobilized them to inform and encourage those who belong to the A1 category to be vaccinated.

The MHO also provided free transportation going to vaccination sites and urged, through text messaging and phone calls, those who belong to A1 category to avail of free vaccination.

Aside from this, the staff from the MHO reported during weekends, Holy Week and holidays to accommodate those who are in the master list under the A1 category.

Gomez said despite their efforts, there are still individuals who belong to the A1 category who declined to be vaccinated.

The refusal to be vaccinated by those who are in the A1 category has delayed Covid-19 vaccination in the municipality. 

The MHO urged the Dept. of Health regional office to proceed vaccinating those who belong to the A3 category considering the population who belong to the group are waiting and willing to receive their first shots of the vaccine.

Adults with controlled comorbidities are classified under the A3 category. 

Since the start of the Covid-19 vaccination rollout in the municipality, the MHO did not receive any report of life–threatening effects aside from the normal side effects.