%20(1).png)
The COVID-19 vaccines started arriving in the Philippines last February 2021. Medical frontliners, senior citizens, and adults with comorbidities were among the priority groups to receive the vaccine. Fortunately, the vaccines are now becoming more available for others, as well.
However, not everyone trusts the vaccine. Vaccine hesitancy has become a prevalent issue among Filipinos nowadays. According to a survey conducted by Pulse Asia last February 22 to March 3, 2021, 61% of 2,400 adults are unwilling to be inoculated by any available vaccines in the country. With this, some cities arranged raffle programs for their vaccinated citizens to encourage them to be vaccinated.
𝗥𝗔𝗙𝗙𝗟𝗘 𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗦
In Las Piñas, vaccinated citizens are eligible to take home a 1.5 million worth of house and lot as the grand prize and two motorcycles as consolation prizes in the grand draw in December. Meanwhile, ten citizens may take home a Php 5,000 worth of grocery package starting this June.
Moreover, a 25-kilogram sack of rice is raffled among vaccinated residents in Barangay Sucat, Muntinlupa City. Twenty lucky winners are chosen once every week. Sponsored by Muntinlupa City Masonic Lodge 414 in collaboration with Ospital ng Muntinlupa, 515 inoculated residents were also able to receive free grocery packages.
With a different creative idea, the City of San Luis in Pampanga came up with a raffle of cows for its vaccinated citizens. Starting from July 2021 to June 2022, one cow is up for grabs to anyone who got at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine; the drawing of winners takes place on the last day of every month.
𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗞𝗦
Aside from the local government units, stepping up their game to encourage more Filipinos to get their doses, some food companies have also provided incentives for vaccinated Filipinos. By simply presenting their vaccine cards, they can already redeem promos, discounts, or value cards that the restaurant offers.
𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘 𝗜𝗦 𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗧𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦
These efforts to increase the people's interest in vaccines are highly appreciated, however, it should not stop here. The focus should still be in strengthening everyone’s confidence and trust in vaccines by letting them understand its importance and purpose. Proper reinforcement of information would go a long way in addressing the main problem in question—the vaccine hesitancy among Filipinos.
Written by Angela Quiniquini
Photo by Charlyn Catapang
Comments