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'Zombified' people a challenge for LGUs in pushing for COVID-19 vaccination program

Philippines | Luzon

'Zombified' people a challenge for LGUs in pushing for COVID-19 vaccination program

By Manila Bulletin

By Jerick Pasiliao

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union – The spread of misinformation on social media remains to be a huge challenge of the government’s vaccination program.

DOH-CHD 1 spokesperson Dr. Rheuel Bobis said varying information, mostly unverified and at times absurd, continue to spread that mostly lead to people being hesitant about the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines.

“Yung pinaka-worst na nakita ko sa Facebook ay magiging zombie raw yung taong nabakunahan pagkatapos ng isang taon. (The worst that I saw on Facebook was people getting vaccines would eventually turn into zombies after a year)” Bobis laughingly said in an interview with the Manila Bulletin.

Bobis also refuted some claims that a person will lose his sense of sight after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.

He said there is no scientific evidence that would support the claims of some fake news peddlers against the COVID-19 vaccines.

Bobis explained that a person who receives the vaccine might feel some side effects as a normal body reaction.

“Normal side effects lang po iyong pagkakaraoon ng lagnat at pananakit ng bahagi ng katawan kung saan itinurok ang bakuna. (It’s normal to have side effects like fever and pain around the area where the vaccine was inoculated),” he added.

He advised netizens to verify information to the legitimate news sources.

Meanwhile, as of April 5, 2021, a total of 1,568 individuals have already been vaccinated in Region 1 mostly composed of frontline health workers and senior citizens.

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