The number of residents in Indang, Cavite who are still unwilling to get vaccinated against COVID-19 remains high, a recent survey by the local government found.
The survey, which was released last October 26, showed 35,646 members of the adult population in Indang have already been vaccinated while 12,816 residents have yet to receive a dose of the vaccine.
COVID-19 VACCINE UPDATE: Magandang Gabi po. Gusto po naming ipagbigay alam sa inyo na ayon po sa survey na ginawa ng…
Posted by Indang Rural Health Unit on Tuesday, October 26, 2021
Indang needs to inoculate at least 70 percent of its total population or 53,750 residents out of 76,786 to achieve herd immunity based on the vaccination goal set by the national government.
The town has been inoculating less than 600 residents a day since October 12 which is below its target of 800 daily, according to Dr. Lani T. Patacsil of Indang’s Rural Health Unit.
Patacsil also said the survey revealed that concerns over their safety is one of the main reasons of the vaccine-hesitant residents for refusing a vaccine.
Hear it from our very Own Rural Health Physician Dr. Lani T. Patacsil, MD, FPCP Covid 19 Cases Update and HERD immunity on Covid Immunization.
Posted by Indang Rural Health Unit on Thursday, October 21, 2021
“[I]lan ay ang sabi ay takot magpa-inject dahil iniisip nila na kapag nagpa-inject, automatic [na] magpo-positive kapag nagsagawa ng swab test,” she explained in a video message posted on Facebook.
The physician then belied this misconception about vaccines, saying getting the jabs will give people protection against COVID-19 instead of infection.
Moreover, Patacsil urged residents to get vaccinated amid a stable supply of vaccines especially those with comorbidities who are deemed high risk for serious COVID-19 illness.
“Kami po ay nangiimbita dahil ayaw na naming masayang ang panahon at masayang ang mga bakuna,” she added.
Vaccine hesitancy in Indang comes at a time when the town’s positivity rate — the number of people who test positive for COVID-19 out of those tested — is at a critical level of 39.56 percent as of October 17.
The World Health Organization set the standard positivity rate to below 5 percent to indicate that an area has controlled the spread of the virus.
To address this, Patacsil assured health authorities will intensify its testing, contact tracing, and isolation efforts.
Indang is also among the towns in Cavite that have allowed walk-in vaccinations. Vaccination sites here are open 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. from Monday to Saturday.
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Thumbnail photo from the Municipality of Indang’s Facebook page
