In preparation for the roll out of the government COVID-19 vaccination program next month, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will launch an information campaign in “underserved” communities in far-flung areas to educate them regarding the importance of inoculation.

In his message during the 70th founding anniversary celebration of the agency on Friday, DSWD Secretary Rolando Bautista said that being at the frontlines in the service and protection of the poor and vulnerable communities, the DSWD is expected to “convince people at the barangay levels to see the advantages and safety of the different vaccines as procured by government based on their scientific merits.”

Quoting the recent Pulse Asia survey on Filipinos regarding COVID-19 vaccination, he noted that 47 percent would refuse vaccination, 21 percent are undecided, and only 32 percent are willing to be vaccinated. 

“The DSWD as community influencers has the duty to inform the underserved of the pros and cons of having COVID-19 vaccines so that they can make informed decisions for themselves,” he said.

The DSWD is part of the Task Force on Vaccination Program, which was formed to ensure the protection of all Filipinos, particularly the vulnerable sectors, against COVID-19.

“UN Population Fund data estimate the Philippine population to be at 109.6 million as of the year 2020. In order to acquire a 70 percent herd immunity to protect the entire population, we must inoculate 77 million Filipinos with two doses each,” Bautista said.

In a virtual presser last week, he said the DSWD will identify the priority recipients of the COVID-19 vaccines.

Bautista laments that majority of communities under various degrees of quarantine have suffered from a disruption and/or suspension of standard immunization.

“Two million children below two years of age belonging to the most vulnerable age group to vaccinate for preventable diseases have not been vaccinated,” he said.  

“An intensified catch-up immunization activity is urgently needed  once the pandemic is under control with vaccination focused on poor children who missed standard vaccine doses during the imposition of the quarantine,” he stressed. 

According to the DSWD chief, the COVID-19 highlights the worst inequalities in social welfare and health care as it discriminately affected the poor, vulnerable, marginalized and disadvantaged , low income, informal settlers and ethnic minorities more severely than others.