THE MEMBERS of the Indigenous People show their acceptance of the anti-COVID-19 vaccine as most of them, especially members of the Badjao community, took to People’s Park jab site to be vaccinated.
The latest data showed that the People’s Park vaccination site serviced a total of 252 members of the Badjao community for the first dose and 36 for the second dose of the anti-COVID vaccines. The site was opened in August.
According to Lawyer Marlisa Gallo, the head of the Davao City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) in an interview with the City Information Office, the increasing interest of members of the Badjao community can be attributed to a joint effort of CSWDO and the private sector.
For the whole week last week, the site catered to 72 in total for the same group, while for one single day on October 13, 2021, the site was able to cater to 32 members of the Badjao community.
It can be noted that since the last week, the available anti-COVID-19 vaccines in the People’s Park vaccination site are primarily Sinovac and Pfizer. Other vaccine brands such as Sinopharm and Moderna are also made available until supplies last.
Gallo said, “Naga-partner ta with NGO, then CSWDO also have workers that are working on the ground (We partnered with the NGOs and the CSWDO also have workers that are working on the ground).”
She added that the CSWDO also continues to distribute hygiene kits and food packs to the members of the Badjao community after the vaccination. The city government has strengthened its initiative to vaccinate more members of IP communities and has partnered with the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) members for the inclusion of the IPs in their mobile vaccination in the far-flung areas in the city.
As of Oct. 12, the mobile vaccination program led by the SP already vaccinated a total of 58,328 for the first dose. A total of 23, 575 already fully vaccinated after receiving two doses of the single-dose anti-COVID vaccines.
