Gov’t to hold 4th Bayanihan, Bakunahan in March — Duque

The government is set to conduct the fourth wave of the “Bayanihan, Bakunahan” national vaccination drive in March with priority given to children and senior citizens, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said on Thursday.

“Itong Marso, itong susunod na buwan, makakasigurado po kayo na magpapadala tayo ng National Vaccination Day 4. ‘Yung ating mga senior citizens, uunahin natin sila [at] ang ating pediatric age group na 5 to 17,” Duque said during the Laging Handa briefing.

[Next month, in March, you can be assured that we will have a national vaccination day 4. We will prioritize the vaccination among the senior citizens and the pediatric age group of 5 to 17.]

The Health chief said that they will increase efforts for the inoculation of the primary series for those who are not yet vaccinated, and the booster shots for those who have completed the three to six month requirement.

The government fell short of the five million target of the Bayanihan, Bakunahan III national vaccination drive that ran from February 10 to 18, the Department of Health (DOH).

At least 3.5 million individuals were inoculated against COVID-19 by the end of this initiative.

‘Ayuda’ for ‘bakuna’ in BARMM

Further, in a separate radio interview on Super Radyo dzBB, Duque said they have yet to determine whether the aid for residents getting vaccinated against COVID-19 in the Bangsamoro Region and other areas with low vaccination rate will be provided through cash or in kind.

“Depende pa ‘yan. Paguusapan pa ‘yan kung ‘yan ay cash o pagkain, pero ang mahalaga, mahikayat sila na magpabakuna, maitaas ang vaccination coverage ng buong BARMM para meron silang proteksyon at para maiwasan ang surge doon,” he said.

[That still depends. We will talk about whether it is through cash or food, but the important thing is to encourage them to get vaccinated and increase the vaccination coverage of the entire BARMM so that they have protection and to prevent the surge there.]

The National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 earlier said they will go to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to increase the COVID-19 vaccination drive there, it being the region with the lowest vaccination rate.

Duque noted that only 31.95% of BARMM’s population is vaccinated against the viral disease.

The DOH on Wednesday identified five challenges in the vaccination rollout in the region such as vaccine hesitancy or preference, limited manpower, fake news, late submission of daily vaccination reports, and lukewarm support from local chief executives and barangay local government units.

“[Although] minimal risk na ang BARMM pagdating sa kaso. Dahil nga ang BARMM naman kasi very sparse ‘yung area, malalayo ang mga komunidad sa isa’t isa, hindi katulad ng mga lungsod,” Duque said.

[Although, BARMM is at minimal risk when it comes to COVID-19 cases because its area is sparse and the communities are far from each other, unlike those in cities.]

He added that the implementation date of the said incentivization program will be discussed in the IATF meeting later in the day.

The government is eyeing to fully vaccinate 77 million Filipinos against COVID-19 by the end of March, and 90 million by the time President Rodrigo Duterte steps down from office on June 30. — RSJ, GMA News