COTABATO CITY — The Department of Health (DOH) and the Ministry of Health (MOH) are calling on the residents of the Special Geographic Area (SGA) to avail themselves of COVID-19 boosters as special vaccination days (SVD) are being conducted in the area until Sept. 8.
SGA is composed of 63 barangays from the clusters of Pigcawayan, Midsayap, Aleosan, Pikit, Carmen, and Kabacan.
“Sa lahat, hinihikayat natin na magpa-booster dose dahil ‘yung ating dalawang doses ay hindi po yan sapat, kailangan natin ng booster para malakas din ang ating resistensiya,” said MOH Officer-in-Charge Minister Dr. Zul Qarneyn Abas.
The doctor said the SVD is part of the PinasLakas Booster Campaign — a directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to intensify the country’s COVID-19 vaccine efforts. “Susuyurin po natin yung 63 barangays para magbigay ng bakuna,” he said.
“Ang targeting ay nasa DOH 12; lahat ng mabakunahan dito, it will be credited to DOH-12. Kaya lang po since constituents natin ito, minarapat natin na maging joint kasi gusto rin tayo makita ng (SGA constituents) at gusto rin nating maramdaman ng mga kababayan dito sa 63 barangays na nandito ang ating presensiya,” Abas explained.
Eman Potia, 33, from Brgy. Kadigasan in Midsayap, also encouraged his fellow residents to get their booster shots to protect one’s self and family. “Kung pwede lang po ay magpabakuna na (tayo) kasi napaka-importante ng bakuna. Yung naririnig nila na haka-haka, hindi naman yun totoo,” he said.
“Ang covid andiyan lang yan at hindi natin nakikita, so ito yung isa sa daan para kahit makasalamuha ka ng ibang tao at least mayroon kang proteksyon,” he added. (Myrna Tepadan/BIO)
