PGB orients media men on COVID-19 vaccine program
CITY OF MALOLOS- The Provincial Government of Bulacan through the Provincial Public Affairs Office and in cooperation with the Provincial Health Office – Public Health held the Media Literacy on COVID-19 Vaccine Program to some of the Bulacan-based media practitioners via Google Meet yesterday.
Educating the media men is one of the necessary steps in educating the public, being considered as powerful information disseminators.
Maricel Santos-Cruz, PPAO head, said that on behalf of Gov. Daniel R. Fernando, she acknowledged the role of media in giving the public access to credible, correct and up to date information that will make them understand to importance of vaccines.
Theresa Marie Bondoc, Health Education and Promotion Officer III from DOH-Central Luzon Central for Health Development, discussed the 10 Must Knows with regard to COVID-19 vaccine that answers 10 questions such as Why is there a need to get vaccinated?; Which vaccines will be used?; Is the vaccine free?; Who gets the vaccine first?; When and where is the vaccination?; What to do before, during and after the vaccination?; After vaccination can we stop following health protocols?; and How to make sure the vaccine you get is authentic?
Bondoc explained that the vaccine prevents symptomatic and severe infection and transmission where vaccines that are FDA approved and given Emergency Use Authorization or EUA are Pfizer and AstraZeneca.
“Richest countries worked and joined hand in hand to expedite the research and development process of the vaccine, but that doesn’t mean na nag-skip tayo ng step, masusi po itong pinag-aralan,” Bondoc explained.
For the prioritization, priority eligible group A are frontline health workers, indigent senior citizens, remaining senior citizens, remaining indigent population and uniformed personnel; while the group B includes teachers and social workers, other government workers, other essential workers outside health, socio-demographic groups at significantly higher risk other than indigent senior citizens and indigent population, OFWs, and other remaining workforce; and Group C are all remaining Filipinos.
She said that vaccines are free and an individual will receive the same brand for two doses and will be monitored until after the vaccination.
“The LGUs in constant coordination with the DOH will determine the venue and time of vaccination. Pinapaalala din po na kahit mabakunahan na, kailangan pa ring sumunod sa health protocols tulad ng pagsusuot ng face masks, face shield at palagiang paghuhugas ng kamay,” Bondoc said.
She added that a person can decline from vaccination but will forfeit his slot according to the prioritization and shall be scheduled after all has been vaccinated. People with allergies to the contents of the vaccine will also be exempted.
After the presentation, the media men participated in the open forum for some clarifications.
COVID-19 Vaccination Program aims to provide free and effective, high quality vaccines against SARS-CoV-2, prioritising those most at risk and most vulnerable populations. ###